Thiruvananthapuram: Malabar Cancer Centre (MCC) in Thalassery will be upgraded to the standard of regional cancer centre (RCC) here, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said.

In a Facebook post, Vijayan said the centre, located in Thalassery in Kannur district, would be elevated to the standard of the regional cancer centre here by equipping it with more facilities.


He also said steps would be taken to set up a post-graduate Institute at the hospital.

The chief minister said the centre had already become a pioneer in providing excellent treatment for cancer patients.

However, the hospital should be expanded by adding more facilities.

"At a time when cancer has become a major cause of worry in the country, there is a room for concern in Kerala also as per the data," Vijayan said in the post.

In view of the seriousness of the situation, the government was committed to extending all possible facilities for treatment.

"The director of MCC has been asked to bring to the notice of the Health Minister the need for any equipment for treatment irrespective of limitation of funds," he said.

Vijayan said the recently opened cancer genetic research laboratory at MCC was the first of its kind in the state public sector to carry out studies on matters related to genetic changes in cancer patients.

Malabar Cancer Centre is an autonomous institution under the state Health and Family Welfare Department.