Karnataka: Kodagu Medical College to start by offering 150 seats from 2016-17

Karnataka: Kodagu Medical College, which will function from this academic year, will start by offering 150 medical seats. 128 seats will be filled through medical entrance exams held in the state. 22 medical seats will be filled through all-India entrance examinations. Kodagu Civil Hospital in Madikeri is the attached hospital to the new medical college. The said hospital is reported to have undergone an upgradation recently. Besides, two new medical colleges- in Uttara Kannada and Chamarajanagar – are expected to start operations this year. The new medical colleges will offer 450 seats.

The medical college campus has been given Rs 161 crore, out of which Rs 130 crore has already been utilized. The boys' hostel in the campus is ready. The 45 room girl’s hostel is expected to be completed by July. Besides, 3 lecture halls and a kitchen has been constructed so far..

College dean Dr B J Mahendra said to the media that the, "The construction works in the campus on Abbi Falls Road is going on. Necessary arrangements have been made to commence first-year courses. Qualified professors have been appointed for the required departments."

Dr Mahendra in addition implied that the kitchen will have a storage capacity of 25 lakh litres. Tenders are also expected to be invited soon for the canteen. However, the availability of water is a major concern for the college administration to handle. The previous attempt of borewell digging, to provide water in the campus has yielded no result. The administration is completely dependent on Madikeri City Municipal Council water supply lines. The administration will still have to deal with water scarcity, in summers too.

The state also faces a shortage of radiologists, with many of them practicing in the private nursing home in want of a good salary.