New medical facilities worth ₹24 crore to come up at KKGMCH; Radiation therapy unit a key addition

New medical facilities worth ₹24 crore will soon be inaugurated in the coming months at Kanniyakumari Government Medical College and Hospital (KKGMCH) in Asaripallam.

This new infrastructure at the hospital, includes six floored critical care unit building, constructed at a cost of ₹20 crore and a radiation facility for cancer patients.

An official from the KKGMCH administration said that the critical care unit has been planned in a way that allows emergency patients to be treated with all the facilities including laboratory, X-Ray and scanning facilities under one roof.

“The six-floor new facility will house an Intensive Care Unit, two operation theatres, post operative care units and other facilities needed at the critical care unit,” he added.

The radiation therapy facility for cancer patients, being developed at a cost of ₹4 crore will also be launched soon at the hospital. This is one of the most anticipated medical facilities that people of Kanniyakumari district have demanded for a long time, as the district has a significant number of cancer diagnosed patients.

Currently, many cancer patients travel to private hospitals or to the Regional Cancer Centre in Thiruvananthapuram. Although KKGMCH has a surgical and medical oncology departments, patients requiring radiation therapy are being referred to Regional Cancer Centre (RMC) in Tirunelveli.

KKMCH Dean Leo David said that establishing a new radiation facility would be highly beneficial for the cancer patients in Kanniyakumari district.

He added, “Every month, around 50 cancer patients undergo surgeries at the hospital and they are now referred to RMC, Tirunelveli for radiation treatment. The launch of a similar radiation facility here will be greatly beneficial for cancer patients visiting the hospital.”

He also mentioned that two new doctors have been deployed to support the radiation unit.

“Machines have already been installed through the Directorate of Medical and Rural Health Services (DMS) and installation of medical isotopes is awaited, which is to be carried out by Bhabha Atomic Research Centre,” Mr. David said.