CM Vijayan to inaugurate new cancer research facility in Kochi

Kochi: Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the new building of the Cochin Cancer Research Centre at Kalamassery on Monday, officials said.

The event is scheduled for 3 pm and will be attended by health minister Veena George and industries minister P Rajeev.

According to a statement from the health minister’s office, the new facility has been built at a cost of Rs 449 crore, including medical equipment. Minister George said the centre marks a significant step forward in cancer treatment and research in the state.

Set up by the Kerala government, the Cochin Cancer Research Centre is aimed at providing advanced and quality care to cancer patients, offering much-needed relief to many families, she said.

The hospital has come up on 12.63 acres within the Kalamassery Medical College campus. The nine-storey building has a total built-up area of 6.3 lakh square feet.

Officials said the centre has 16 lifts, modern operation theatres and parking space for 550 vehicles. There are 12 fully equipped operation theatres designed for complex procedures, and one has been kept ready for future robotic surgeries.

The centre also has a strong focus on research, with a dedicated 10,000 square feet area for research activities.

It is equipped with advanced technology for scanning, X-ray and radiation therapy, with extensive use of artificial intelligence-based systems.

The statement added that this is the first hospital building in Kerala to receive EDGE certification. The facility currently meets its entire power requirement through solar energy and is 25 per cent carbon-free, in line with the state government’s goal of making Kerala fully carbon-neutral by 2050.

(with inputs from agencies)