The idea of CCRC stemmed from the fact that Central Kerala does not have a major cancer centre while Malabar has Malabar Cancer Centre at Thalasseri and South Kerala has Regional Cancer Centre at Trivandrum. The number of cancer cases is increasing and hence the relevance of another cancer centre is needed for Central Kerala. The Cochin Cancer Centre (CCRC) at Ernakulam is a world-class cancer care hospital and research center. CCRC is an autonomous organization under the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Kerala, that started with the objective of establishing a comprehensive cancer center to provide all types of oncology care to the people of the central region of Kerala and neighboring parts of Tamil Nadu & Karnataka state.
On August 18, 2014, the foundation stone was laid for an advanced cancer research institute in Kochi by Chief Minister Sri Oommen Chandy. CCRC started to function in Government Medical College Hospital building (MCH), Kalamassery, on November 1st ,2016 inaugurated by Honourable Chief Minister Sri Pinarayi Vijayan with very limited facilities and a staff strength of 70 Nos, including doctors and non-medical staff. CCRC started with an outpatient wing, with lab facility and pharmacy. Slowly surgery started in Medical College Theatre as per MOU signed between CCRC and GMCH. The main objective of the center is not only to provide comprehensive cancer care but also to develop it as a research and training center of national and international standards.
Dr. P G Balagopal, who worked as an additional professor at the Regional Cancer Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, took charge as medical superintendent at the Cancer Centre on 23.02.2017. The key areas which he looked into are transportation woes, carrying out surgeries in collaboration with the Government Medical College and setting up of satellite centres in the neighbouring districts. He also worked towards bringing the treatment under government’s various benevolence schemes and also organise awareness programmes to educate the younger generation about the disease.
Dr.Moni Abhraham Kuriakose took charge as the as the director on April 2, 2018. In May 2018, the foundation stone laying ceremony of a new building was presided over by the Honourable Chief Minister, Shri Pinarayi Vijayan. The event, held at the Government Medical College Ground in Kalamassery, witnessed the participation of respected ministers, including Health Minister Mrs. K.K. Shailaja, Education Minister Mr. C. Raveendranath, and Mr. V.K. Ibrahim Kunju MLA, among many others.
Mammogram which is used for detecting breast cancer in the early stages, funded by MPLAD (Member of Parliament Local Area Development) scheme under Shri C.P. Narayanan
MP’s fund, includes a mammogram unit costing one crore forty lakhs rupees and a micro-tome. Similarly, from the fund of Shri Ibrahim Kunju M.L.A, a colposcopy instrument worth
thirty-two lakhs rupees is procured to aid in the early detection of gynaecological cancers.
These tools contribute to the well-being of cancer patients, providing additional strength for their health improvement. Radiology Department started on 2019 with the facilities of USG, X ray, Mammogram.
During The Covid Pandemic time CCRC shifted to General Hospital, EKM on 23.03.2020. During the time the hospital utilizes the facilities of GH and MOU signed with Indira Gandhi Hospital, EKM to do surgeries.
This proposed new building of cancer hospital and research center is envisioned to provide the best cancer treatment to mankind, in keeping with the recent advancements in the medical world, utilizing the latest diagnostic and clinical facilities, thereby enabling a safe and healthy environment for "all types of cancer treatments".
Based on the basic philosophy of care, treatment and compassion, this cancer hospital and research center offers the latest facilities available in modern medicine, especially in all types of cancer treatment. The State Government has designated it as the Center for Science, Research and Technology in the Health Sector.
The Clinics will mainly operate in medical, surgical, radiation, Paediatric, Radio Diagnostics, Nuclear Medicine, Onco-Pathology, Micro-Biology, Community Oncology, Pain and palliative, Dental, Medical Epidemiology and Tumar Registry oncology departments. The commissioning of the CCRC with 360 IP beds will be completed in three phases. After a delay of around three years, the government planned to start first phase of Cochin Cancer Research Centre(CCRC) will be ready in 2024. The schedule for commissioning the second and third phases will be decided later. In the second phase, 100 more IP beds will be added to the phase -1 facility. In the third phase another 160 more IP beds will also be set up.
