Regional Cancer Centre 

An Overview

The Regional Cancer Centre (RCC), Thiruvananthapuram is a leading cancer care and research institute in India. Established in 1981, RCC is located on the campus of the Government Medical College in Kerala's capital city. The centre originated from the expansion of the Medical College’s Radiation Therapy department and has since evolved into a tertiary care centre catering to all types of cancer en.wikipedia.org.

Established In 1981 & Governance Model

RCC was founded in 1981 by the Governments of Kerala and India as an autonomous institution rcctvm.gov.in. It operates under a joint sponsorship arrangement, with financial support and oversight shared between the state and central governments. This collaborative model ensures sustainable funding, governance autonomy, and operational flexibility.

Leadership & Ownership

• Founding Director: Dr. M. Krishnan Nair, an acclaimed oncologist and Padma Shri awardee (2001), served as RCC’s first director until his retirement in November 2003 en.wikipedia.org.
• Current Director: Dr. Rekha A Nair, an accomplished oncologist, now leads the institution.

Ownership is joint between the Kerala State Government and the Government of India. RCC is recognized as an autonomous scientific institution and designated by the Government of Kerala as a Science & Technology Centre in the health sector.

Infrastructure & Academic Affiliations

Situated within the Government Medical College campus—established in 1951—RCC benefits from shared infrastructure with specialty hospitals like SAT Women & Children’s Hospital and the Dental College. The centre offers comprehensive facilities including:

• Diagnostics: Histopathology, cytology, advanced imaging (CT, ultrasound, nuclear medicine), endoscopy, molecular diagnostics.
• Treatment: Radiotherapy, surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and palliative care.
• Support Services: Physiotherapy, speech therapy, psychology, medical social work.

RCC is a postgraduate teaching hub affiliated with Kerala University of Health Sciences. It provides super‑specialty programmes such as MCh in Surgical Oncology, DM Medical Oncology and Pediatric Oncology, and MD courses in Radiotherapy, Anesthesiology, and Pathology. Over 400 students, clinical and paramedical, receive training annually.

Standards & Accreditation

• WHO Collaborating Centre: RCC excelled in community oncology and epidemiology, earning WHO collaboration status early on.
• Registry Excellence: It hosts both a Hospital-Based Cancer Registry (since 1982) and a Population-Based Cancer Registry (established in 2006), integral to India’s National Cancer Registry Programme.
• Scientific & Research Recognition: The Government of Kerala declared RCC a STEM Centre of Excellence and a recognized State Research Organisation under the Ministry of Science & Technology.
• District Cancer Control Support: RCC provides technical expertise for Kerala’s District Cancer Control programmes, including the operational SOP initiated in 2023.

Community Outreach & Patient Support

RCC has been a pioneer in community-focused oncology. It launched India’s first dedicated Community Oncology Division in 1985 to promote early detection, epidemiology, education, and preventive care.

The centre provides free advanced diagnostic services and chemotherapy:

• Approximately 60 % of patients receive completely free treatment.
• 29 % receive subsidized care.
• All children with cancer receive free chemotherapy regardless of income.
• Over the past five years, free drugs worth INR 80 lakhs were supplied to low-income patients.

Clinical Volume & Services

RCC handles substantial patient volumes annually:

• Around 17,000 new cancer cases registered each year.
• Over 50,000 follow-up visits by cancer patients.
• More than 80,000 non-cancer patients undergo investigations.
• Daily OPD consultations often exceed 500 visits .
• Nearly 16,000 new patients come from across South India and neighboring countries, and over 70 % of those requiring primary treatment receive free care.

Research & Epidemiology

RCC’s research contributions are noteworthy:

• Active in epidemiological studies including cohort research on HPV and cervical cancer.
• Conducted oral cancer screening programmes supported by IARC.
• Investigated chemopreventive agents like vitamin A, beta-carotene, Spirulina past decades journal.waocp.org.
• Studied occupational exposure and cancer risk, and tracked survival endpoints.
• Pioneered registry initiatives: Hospital (since 1982) and Population-Based (since 2006) .
• Collaborated with national and international agencies like WHO, IARC, and UCSF.

Training & Capacity Building

Educational and workforce development remain central to RCC’s mission. The centre:

• Offers specialist courses in oncology (DM/MCh/MD) and trains over 400 professionals annually.
• Provides extensive training for district, block, and primary healthcare staff under the District Cancer Control initiative dhs.kerala.gov.in.

Future Outlook

RCC continues to strengthen regional cancer control via:

• Ongoing support to district-level organisations through SOPs and referral networks.
• Measures to increase early detection and treatment outcomes, aiming for 70 % five-year survival in cervical cancer and 65 % in breast cancer by 2030.
• Expanding research in molecular epidemiology, preventive oncology, and public health strategies.
• Building capacity in decentralized centres with a tiered care model—from PHCs to tertiary institutions .

In short, the Regional Cancer Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, stands as a benchmark in cancer care, research, education, and community outreach. Founded in 1981 and guided initially by Dr. M. Krishnan Nair, now led by Dr. Rekha A Nair, RCC exemplifies excellence as a jointly owned autonomous institution. Its robust research infrastructure, broad patient care spectrum, academic programmes, and leadership in district-wide cancer control initiatives cement its role as a cancer control leader—both regionally and nationally.

Payment Methods

💳 Payment Methods Accepted:

• Cash – Accepted at all cash counters across outpatient registration, inpatient admissions, pharmacies, canteen, and diagnostic services
• Debit & Credit Cards – Accepted for outpatient services and hospital bills; RCC supports digital card payments
• Cheques & Demand Drafts (DDs) – +Patients can pay by cheque/DD in favour of the Director, RCC for services, admissions, and donation schemes
• Online Bank Transfers & Digital Payment – RCC accepts online fund transfers for donations and certain payments
• Credit Schemes / Wallets – RCC provides credit facilities for patients under ESI, CGHS, ECHS, or other government-backed schemes with relevant documentation
• Insurance / Government-sponsored Programs – Patients covered by CGHS, ECHS, or state welfare funds can avail treatment on credit after submitting proper authorization

🧾 Payment Process & Guidelines:

1. Outpatient & Admission Payments
   • Registration, diagnostics, and admission require prompt payment via cash, card, cheque/DD, or eligible credit scheme.
2. Inpatient Billing
   • An advance amount is paid at admission, with weekly bill settlements required at the cash counter. Receipts must be submitted to the ward sister.
3. Canteen & Medicine Banks
   • Subsidised meals and free medicines are available for BPL patients. Payments via cash or contributions support these services.

🎗 Donation & Welfare Fund Payments; 

• Cheque/DD – Accepted in favour of “The Director, RCC, Thiruvananthapuram” for various welfare funds.
• Online Donations – Accepted via bank transfer (State Bank of India). After payment, donors must email transaction details to the Director for receipt and tax exemption.

Service Locations

🌍 Service Locations & Regions Served by RCC, Thiruvananthapuram

The Regional Cancer Centre (RCC), Thiruvananthapuram, extends its comprehensive cancer care far beyond its main campus, serving patients across Kerala and parts of neighboring states. Here's a detailed breakdown of its service locations:

🏥 Main Campuses;

• Primary Campus
  Medical College Campus, Post Bag No. 2417, Thiruvananthapuram – the central hub for diagnosis, treatment, research, and training.
• Secondary Campus
  Pulayanarkotta, Thiruvananthapuram – hosts additional outpatient and community outreach services.

🏢 Outreach Centres Across Kerala

RCC operates multiple satellite centres to ensure access to early detection and follow-up care:

1. Palakkad – Early Cancer Detection Centre, Kanjikkode West
2. Ernakulam (Kochi) – Early Cancer Detection Centre at Kaloor
3. Kollam (Karunagappally) – Natural Background Radiation Cancer Registry Unit, Puthanthura, Neendakara

Additionally, RCC is part of the Population-Based Cancer Registry for South Kerala, covering Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, and Kottayam districts.

📡 Telemedicine & Mobile Clinics

To widen its reach, RCC runs telemedicine and early-detection clinics in conjunction with outreach centres on scheduled dates:

• Kannur – Early Cancer Detection Centre (Malabar Cancer Care Society), 2nd Saturday
• Ernakulam (Kochi) – weekly third‑Saturday clinics at Kaloor centre
• Karunagappally (Kollam) – Registry unit engages on alternate months 
• Palakkad – ECDC clinics quarterly on second Saturdays
• Kozhencherry (Pathanamthitta) – District Cancer Centre at District Hospital, early detection every first Saturday

🌐 Extended Network Through District Hospitals

RCC supports a network of 24 district and general hospitals across Kerala, offering cancer-care services post-pandemic. These hospitals and their specialists are connected online (tele-oncology) with RCC experts:

• Kollam, Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta (Kozhencherry), Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Kannur, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Thalassery, Kanhangad, Punalur, Mavelikkara, Pala, Thodupuzha, Ottapalam, Nilambur, Kodungallur, Tirur, among others