Cama may open its doors to men

The state-run facility, meant exclusively for women and children, is considering treating men at its upcoming cancer treatment centre

Cama may open its doors to men

The state-run facility, meant exclusively for women and children, is considering treating men at its upcoming cancer treatment centre

The city's only government-run hospital for women and children may soon cross the gender divide.

The Cama & Albless hospital, which is soon to start a radiotherapy centre for cancer patients on its premises, is considering treating men at the centre as well.

Given that the cityu00a0 only one had one cancer treatment facility until now, the authorities at Cama want to make the treatment more inclusive

"Initially, we had just planned to treat women in the centre and see the response. But because this will be the second cancer facility in the city, we are expecting a large number of patients.
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And after treating females, we are thinking of treating men as well," said Dr Shobna Tehra, medical superintendent of the hospital.

The consideration is not just a sign of progressive times, but a way to address its demands. Medical literature suggests that half of all cancer patients require radiotherapy at some stage during the course of the treatment.

And given that the city has only one cancer treatment facility until now, which is at Tata Hospital, the authorities at Cama want to make the treatment more inclusive.

Director of Medical Education and Research, Dr W B Tayade, said, "The incidence of cancer is rising and the city has only one hospital for cancer treatment. It cannot cope with the number of patients.
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So, we proposed the setting up of the cancer centre here. We are thinking about allowing men at the centre as well. The decision is yet to be taken."

But the hospital will maintain its traditional sensibilities of respecting female privacy in case it decides to do away with the positive discrimination. Towards this end, the authorities have planned separate entry ways for men to reach the centre.

"Keeping in mind the privacy of the female patients, we have even come up with the idea of having a separate entry for men to the centre. We will have to seek various permissions which we can do only after the centre is functional," said Dr Tehra.

Sources said that the hospital and the medical education department have not come to a clear consensus on allowing men as the Rs 32-crore project, funded partly by the state and MP Milind Deora, was meant to be for women.

"They have given the funds for cancer treatment for women. Before extending the service to men, we should consult them," said an official requesting anonymity.

Though Cama's cancer treatment project was announced in 2001, it gained momentum only recently, and is expected to be functional by May this year.

Ek Cutting!
Women only
The Cama & Albless hospital opened on July 30, 1886. It was intended solely for women and young children. The hospital was staffed entirely by women. The religious beliefs at that time did not permit Indian women to be treated or even seen by male physicians. So, the institution was begun to fix that shortcoming in healthcare.