Chief Minister Oommen Chandy inaugurated the first Medical College of Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) in the state in Parippally on Saturday. With this, the long-pending desire of the people of Kollam district to have a medical college of their own in the government sector has been fulfilled.
The In-patient Department (IPD) block, Out-patient Department (OPD) block, operation theatre and diagnostic centre were inaugurated by Minister for Labour Shibu Baby John, Minister for Health V S Sivakumar, MPs N Peethambara Kurup and K N Balagopal respectively.
300 beds, four operation theatres, MRI scan, CT scan, labs, most modern equipment, quarters and hostels for staff and students are also provided in this medical college.
“Our state has reached great heights in the healthcare sector but many people are not able to make use of the services. Starting medical colleges will help in solving this issue and this is the sole reason why the state is going forward with the mission to start medical colleges in all districts,” the Chief Minister said.
Chandy also assured to provide 30 acres of land to ESIC for a new medical college in Mavelikkara. “Let ESIC begin the procedures for the Mavelikkara Medical College and the government will definitely extend its support in finding the land and other allied matters,” the Chief Minister said.
In what was termed by the Minister of State for Labour Kodikunnil Suresh as an added gain, the State Government would get 60 of the total 100 seats in the medical college from the first 2014-15 batch itself. Of the remaining 40 seats, 15 will be for the Central Government and 25 for the children of ESI beneficiaries.
“This will be an opportunity for the children from poor families to pursue graduation in medicine by paying only Rs 2,400 as annual fees. Medical Council of India will conduct an inspection very shortly and we have followed all norms to get permission from the Council. The classes here will start by August,” Kodikunnil Suresh said.
At the function, Kodikunnil also urged for speedy arrangements for water supply to the medical college and the Chief Minister made a call to JICA project director. “JICA assured to supply seven lakh litres of water per day to the medical college and the order in this regard will be handed over to Kodikunnil Suresh at the earliest,” the Chief Minister said.
District Collector B Mohanan, ESIC Board members V Radhakrishnan, K Suresh Babu and M Murali, Director-General of ESIC A K Agarwal, regional director of ESIC S V Krishna Kumar and DCC president Prathapa Varma Thampan were also present.