The state health department has not yet sent a proposal to the Centre to install modern machines required for treatment of cancer patients during the up-gradation programme. A senior official said that primarily there were proposals to procure some modern and costly machines to cater to cancer patients from the state, but the plan was annulled when the final proposals were sent to the Centre.

“We had urged the state health department to install modern machines required for cancer treatment. We had proposed that an equipment like the linear accelerator which is a modern machine for radiotherapy, should be installed in the hospital but the idea was dropped because these machines are very costly,” said an official.

Officials also said a total of Rs 120 crore would be spent during this up-gradation programme, a major portion of which would be provided by the Centre. But the fund is too inadequate to buy costly equipment or machines. The main focus of the programme is to develop the infrastructure of the hospital. Some new buildings and departments would be set up with the funds provided by the Centre during the up-gradation programme.