Media Release
Udupi, Oct 23: Manipal Comprehensive Cancer Care Centre (MCCCC) of Kasturba Hospital, Manipal on October 23 celebrated its second anniversary. The Shirdi Sai Baba Cancer Hospital and Research Institute of Kasturba Hospital of Manipal commenced 29 years back as a second cancer care centre of Karnataka. It was reconstituted as a Comprehensive Cancer Care Centre in 2018. The Manipal Comprehensive Cancer Care Centre has departments of Medical Oncology, Surgical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Paediatric Oncology, Nuclear Medicine and Palliative Medicine along with ancillary services like Onco-Pathology, Onco-Radiology, Psycho-Oncology, Community Oncology and Onco-Rehab. It also has ten site-specific tumour boards that facilitate comprehensive and accurate cancer decision making and treatment. Advanced and state-of-the-art PET-CT was added to its crown recently.
Professor Dorothy Keefe, CEO of Cancer Australia, the Australian government was the chief guest of the programme. Dr Sudharshan Ballal- chairman of MHEPL, Lt Gen (Dr) M D Venkatesh - vice-chancellor, Dr PLNG Rao pro-vice Chancellor of MAHE Manipal were the guests of honour of the programme. Dr H S Ballal - pro-chancellor of MAHE Manipal presided over the function. Dr Sharath Kumar Rao, dean of KMC, C G Muthana, COO and Dr Avinash Shetty, medical superintendent of Kasturba Hospital, Manipal and Dr Naveen S Salins coordinator of MCCCC were present.
On the Occasion, Professor Dorothy Keefe said, “I am honoured to be a part of the second anniversary of MCCCC and to be a part of a long tradition of Indian-Australian collaboration in Oncology." She also congratulated the team of doctors, supporting staff of Kasturba Hospital, Manipal for reforming into a complete Comprehensive Cancer Care Centre and providing quality cancer care to the patients. She is keen and looking forward to working with the team of experts in providing world-class cancer treatment to the patients in the future added Professor Dorothy.
Dr Sudharshan Ballal launched an oncology electronic medical record system for the MCCCC which was developed by MCCCC and said, "I am happy to launch the digital oncology programme, which is a diverse, multi-system, multi-disciplinary oncology database created by the MCCCC for collection of cancer data. It incorporates all the parameters of cancer management. Phase 1 is completed and was launched on Friday. I wish all the best and look forward to the second phase very soon."
Lt Gen (Dr) M D Venkatesh launched a breast cancer app called 'PINK' developed by the marketing department of Kasturba Hospital, Manipal and said, "This provides hints and information for self-examination and enables maintaining regular screening appointments.
Moreover, through the MCCCC, there is a future plan to start a Cancer Quality Initiative (CQI) hub, and to create a Cancer Research initiative (CRI).
Dr P L N G Rao launched the 'Donate Life App' developed by the department of Paediatric Oncology and Haematology of Kasturba Hospital, Manipal and said, “This will help people to register the donors from the city and facilitate them to connect them directly to the blood bank. MCCCC is looking at creating many more advocacy programmes to improve awareness."
In his presidential address Dr H S Ballal, said, “I am very happy that MCCCC is launching many apps for patient use and definitely very useful to the needy. Our future plan is to start six-bedded dedicated Bone Marrow Transplant services (4 adults + 2 paediatric), which is not available in this coastal region from Mumbai to Cochin. Recently palliative and supportive care services of the MCCCC have also expanded their scope by starting a division for chronic and intervention pain. Very soon we intend to start three palliative medicine sub-speciality services namely, paediatric palliative care, kidney supportive care and neurology palliative care."
Dr Naveen S Salins, spoke about the journey of MCCCC for the last two years. Dr Sharath Rao welcomed the gathering and Dr Avinash Shetty proposed the vote of thanks. Dr Sumeet S Malapure was the emcee for the programme.