BHUBANESWAR: IN what could be a proud moment in health sector for northern Odisha region, 15 per cent of seats reserved for students under the all-India quota have been filled up in Pandit Raghunath Murmu Medical College and Hospital (PRMMCH) at Baripada.
Last month, the Government medical college had received Letter of Permission (LoP) from the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry for an annual intake of 100 students after the Supreme Court oversight committee approved the grant of permission.
Health Secretary Dr Pramod Kumar Meherda said, all 15 seats under all India quota have been blocked during first round of counselling. Admission to rest 85 seats is going on in full swing and the class would commence on time, he said. Built on an area of 21 acres at Rangamatia, the medical college will cater to the needs of people in Odisha and neighbouring States of West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand. The district headquarters hospital will serve for clinical training of students.
While the first round of counselling will end on Juy 23, second round is scheduled from August 9 to 16. Some of the aspirants are facing difficulties as July 16 was a holiday and July 22 is a bank closure day.
Principal of PRM-MCH Dr Srikrushna Mohapatra said three students, including two from Kerala, have already taken admission. “We have suggested students to complete banking formalities on Friday,” he said.
The college authorities, however, expect that all seats will be filled up by end of second round of counselling. “A student having a rank in the medical exam has to lock his/her choice of college in the first round of counselling. Students are barred from taking part in second round counselling if they do not take part in the first round,” clarified Dr Mohapatra.
Meanwhile, the State Government has expedited the process for recruitment of staff in both Baripada and Koraput medical colleges and Health Minister Pratap Jena is supervising the progress of construction activities. The college building will be handed over by August 15.