Kerala to Fast-Track Recruitment of 36 Doctors for Cochin Cancer Research Centre

Months after its launch, the Cochin Cancer Research Centre (CCRC) in Kerala is set to receive a boost with the recruitment of 36 doctors on a priority basis, according to Fisheries Minister and Kalamassery MLA V.E. Abdul Gafoor.

The Minister said the first phase of recruitment will focus on doctors, followed by nursing and technical staff. He noted that if permanent appointments cannot be made immediately, staff will be hired on a contract basis at least. A recruitment board has already been constituted, he added.

The centre, however, has over a hundred sanctioned posts lying vacant and is currently operating with minimal staff. Although the previous government sanctioned these posts in December, before the institute's inauguration, the hiring process has not yet been completed.

Medical professionals associated with the centre have expressed concerns about relying on contract appointments. One oncologist said that good oncologists are unlikely to be attracted on a contract basis, and that the institute's goal of becoming a centre of excellence requires the best professionals. Another oncologist stressed the need for a strong workforce to run the facility effectively.

Despite the incomplete staffing, outpatient services and other medical facilities, including an operation theatre, have already been shifted from the Government Medical College to the CCRC. CT and MRI scan facilities are also operational.

The Minister assured that the required staff will be recruited soon so that the facility becomes fully operational.