BHUBANESWAR: Delay by the Centre in releasing adequate funds has slowed down the establishments of five medical colleges in Odisha.
The state government had taken up construction of five new medical colleges with a project cost of Rs 189 crore each under centrally sponsored scheme having a funding pattern of 75:25 by the Centre and State.
As flow of funds from the Centre has gone down during the last two years, this has affected the establishment of the medical colleges. Though admission in the new medical colleges for MBBS students has been scheduled to commence from 2018-19 academic session, the delay in the release of funds by the Centre has become an additional burden on the state exchequer.
The medical colleges are being set up in Koraput, Balangir, Puri, Balasore and Baripada.
The state government had submitted a revised estimate of Rs 2450.9 crore to the ministry of health and family welfare for the five medical colleges. However, Centre has provided only Rs 170 crore to the State Government to set up new medical colleges by December last year.
If the required funds are not released to the State in time, construction of these five new medical colleges will be delayed leading to continued shortage of doctors in Odisha.
The state government has requested that the Centre that the revised estimate should be approved and Centre's share released immediately for timely operationalization of the institutions.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure immediate release of funds for timely completion of construction of five new medical colleges in the State.
It was decided to hold the classes of the medical colleges proposed in Bolangir, Balasore and Puri at the respective District Headquarters Hospitals. However, they are yet to meet the guidelines of the Medical Council of India (MCI).
The state government is, however, hopeful that classes in Koraput and Baripada medical colleges will be started as early as possible. Though chief minister Naveen Patnaik has taken up the issue with prime minister Narendra Modi and union health minister JP Nadda several times, the funds' flow is yet to improve.