The RCC here - one of the leading cancer treatment and care facility in South India - is all set to be elevated as one of the first State Cancer Institutes in the country.
The Government of India has allotted Rs 120 crore for infrastructure development of the Centre under its National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS) in the 12th Five Year Plan, Dr Paul Sebastian, Director of RCC said here today.
This coveted achievement affirms RCC's (Regional Cancer Centre) growth and contributions on various fronts, from high standards of care to increasing number of patients and provision of free drugs to infrastructure addition and upgradation and advanced treatment facilities, he said.
"Patient centricity has been at the core of all of our development activities.The elevation as State Cancer Institute will help me and my team enhance the quality of services that we have been providing to over two lakh patients who come to us for care every year", he said.
Completion of a 10-storeyed building would considerably ease space shortage that RCC was experiencing now. "The 1.2 lakh sq feet building is getting ready for occupation by year end," he added.
"We hope that the State Cancer Institute status would be a stepping stone to a National Cancer Institute status in the near future. Efforts are on in full gear," Sebastian said.
RCC has witnessed an yearly increase in patient registrations and provides care to more than 15,000 new cancer patients every year now.
Significantly, 45 per cent of new cancer patients are treated free of cost and internally generated funds to the tune of Rs 12 crore annually are used to provide free treatment to persons Below the Poverty Line.
