Lok Sabha Debates
Need To Upgrade Cancer Research Institute, Adyar In Tamil Nadu As A National ... on 30 April, 2013
> Title: Need to upgrade Cancer Research Institute, Adyar in Tamil Nadu as a National Centre of Excellence.
SHRI C. RAJENDRAN (CHENNAI SOUTH): In my Parliamentary Constituency of Chennai South, there is a Cancer Research Institute in Adyar, which was founded in 1954, as a voluntary charitable organization. This Institute is one of the oldest NGO-run cancer hospitals in the country. As a Cancer Referral Centre, this Institute has been providing exemplary service to the cancer patients in India. This Institute has been rated by the World Health Organization as the top-ranking Cancer Centre in the country.
With paucity of funds and virtually no assistance from the Centre, this Institute is not able to expand and serve more cancer patients. So far, the Centre has been providing meagre support to the Institute through the Tertiary Cancer Centre Scheme, under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer. For the last three decades, it is serving the public with the least resources. Presently, the Tamil Nadu Government has been providing maintenance grants.
The Chairperson of the Institute has sent a proposal to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, for upgradation of this Centre as a National Centre, with a view to extend much better services to the cancer patients from all over the country. This proposal is pending with the Government of India. Our Hon'ble Chief Minister has also written a letter to the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India in this regard.
Considering the yeomen service being rendered by this Institute for overthree decades, this Institute should be upgraded to that of a Centre of Excellence and given a national status so that it becomes an autonomous National Cancer Research Institute.
I request the Government to consider and upgrade this Institute so that it could be expanded and strengthened which would enable it to serve the public better.