KOLLAM: Following Central Government’s decision to discontinue UPA Government’s policy of setting up ESI medical colleges with an outlay of Rs 20,000 crore, the future of such projects in the state is in limbo.
Kodikunnil Suresh MP, said that the college in Mavelikkara was a foregone conclusion as the ESI wanted to focus only on primary care centres.
Kodikunnil, who had announced opening of medical colleges in Parippally and Mavelikkara under the ESIC, when he was the Minister of State in the Ministry of Labour in UPA-II Government, told a press meet here the other day that he was informed by Labour Minister Narendra Singh Tomar that Parippally Hospital could still approach the Medical Council to start the courses by next year. But as the ESI is looking for an exit, Tomar had asked the State Government to take up the college.
Though Health Minister V S Sivakumar said that the State Government would be interested in taking up the college, the MP said that it would be too early to decide as the terms and conditions were not discussed.
Kodikunnil said that Parippally college had almost been set up and the delay in appointment of faculty members during the election time had delayed the beginning of courses this year. “I wanted the old policies to continue as the workers and their children would get advanced medical treatment and 25 per cent reservation for medical admission,” Kodikunnil said. He also said that the admission to para medical college in Ezhukone was also stopped this year following the new policy.Thirteen of the 31 medical colleges in the country envisaged in the UPA’s plan are under various stages of construction.