Kongu region gets Rs 37.5crore cancer care centre

COIMBATORE: A cancer care centre was inaugurated in the Tirupur Government Medical College Hospital on Tuesday by minister for Tamil development, information & publicity M P Saminathan. The Comprehensive Cancer Care Centre has been established at a cost of Rs 37.5 crore under the Tamil Nadu govt’s Namakku Naame scheme.

"Cancer cases have increased in the Kongu region, and establishing a specialised cancer centre is a need," Saminathan told reporters after the inauguration.

He laid the foundation stone for the construction of a cancer rehabilitation centre with a capacity of 100 beds. The centre will be established at a cost of Rs 1.5 crore.

The minister said nearly five lakh lives had been saved through the state govt’s Innuyir Kappom - Nammai Kaakkum 48 scheme. "Many health care schemes were rolled out for the public welfare. More than 200 children with diabetes have been identified for early intervention in collaboration with the hospital management and NGO, Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam, offering medical assistance at the doorstep, Idhayam Kappom Thittam, etc."

Earlier, the minister laid the foundation stone for the construction of a treatment centre for type 1 diabetes. The centre will be established at a cost of Rs 20 crore. He inaugurated various other projects, including four integrated one-stop centres for disabled people, launched work on widening the Palladam- Pollachi Road into a four-lane, inspected work on a bypass in Palladam and distributed accident insurance cards to the tune of Rs 5 lakh each for 70 athletes.