Date:17/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/17/stories/2008081757410200.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Cancer operation theatre upgraded

Staff Reporter

At a cost of Rs.25 lakh at Royapettah Hospital

— PHOTO: M.KARUNAKARAN

Networked: Local Administration Minister M.K.Stalin at the launch of a CME programme on breast cancer at Government Royapettah Hospital on Saturday. Health Minister M.R.K. Paneerselvam is seen.

CHENNAI: The Government Royapettah Hospital (GRH) now has a renovated, state-of-the-art cancer operation theatre.

The facilities in the theatre, improved with a fund of Rs.25 lakh provided by Local Administration Minister and MLA of the area, M.K. Stalin, were commissioned on Saturday. Mr. Stalin and Health Minister M.R.K.Paneerselvam participated in the function.

The theatre has been upgraded with equipment worth Rs.15 lakh that has the facility to diagnose cancerous tissues within 15 minutes, said T.P. Kalaniti, Director of Medical Education.

“The equipment would help surgeons to make a diagnosis even as the patients are being operated on. We can take a tissue and test it and decide how to deal with it,” said R. Rajaraman, head of Surgical Oncology department.

At the GRH, the medical, surgical and radiation oncology sections are all under one roof.

It is also a department where specialised, innovative surgeries involving conservation of the bones/soft tissues have been done, he said.

Mr. Stalin also launched a continuing medical education (CME) programme on breast cancer. Women reported with cancer in the third stage when organ conservation could not be done.

The CME programme, which was beamed live to the six districts of Tiruvannamalai, Kancheepuram, Ooty, Krishnagiri, Tiruvallur and Rameswaram, was for doctors and medical students in the government hospitals there.