Chhattisgarh: Government Medical Colleges upgradation in the offing

Raipur: The Jagdalpur and Bilaspur Medical Colleges in Chattisgarh are among the 13 colleges that have been given central government approval for up gradation. The upgradation is estimated to cost Rs.200 crore. For the purpose of the said facelift, the centre’s share has been nominated at Rs.120 crore and that of the state at Rs. 80 crore- under phase IV of the 'Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana' by the central cabinet, officials informed.

The current financial year’s release for two medical colleges at Rajnand Gaon and Ambikapur by the central government has been allocated at Rs 34 crore and Rs. 49 crore respectively.

The Chattisgarh Government in its efforts to overcome shortage of doctors in the state has already issued appointment letters to 300 newly appointed medical practitioners under the class-II category. Posting orders for these new appointees have also been issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The state government had in April, last year, also decided to carry out doctor recruitmen,t without conducting interviews.

The state government had earlier also released an advertisement for recruitment of 200 doctors in tribal dominated Surguja and Bastar divisions. 600 applicants responded and the Chief Minister, directed the health officials to recruit all the 600, for they would help fill vacancies at various district hospitals.

Another crucial decision taken by the Chattisgarh government was to set up 'DKS Post Graduate Institute and Research Centre' in Raipur’s 'Dau Kalyan Singh Bhawan' (old Mantralaya building).The responsibility of renovation of the building for the institute, creating posts, procurement of equipment, appointment of medical officers and other employees now lies with Director, Medical Education.

A high-powered autonomous committee headed by the State Health and Family Welfare Minister, Ajay Chandrakar has been appointed to look after the affairs of the institute, reports the Pioneer.

Officials revealed that the committee has been formed under provision of Chhattisgarh Society Registration Act-1973. The committee is supposed to take decisions pertaining to renovation of the building, campus development, and approval of important posts & related appointments.

The Public Works Department (PWD) has been appointed as an agency for undertaking the institute’s building extension and campus development work, the officials added. They also clarified, that permission or approval required from any Regulatory Commission or organization for the institute is to be sought immediately.

The institute is going to have a Director, Superintendent and a Nodal Officer who will be responsible for the affairs of the institute. The officials are also to be responsible for forming all requisite committees, for the institute within one month.

Notably, Chief Minister, Raman Singh has also announced the starting a series of high expertise medical services, including Neurosurgery, Plastic Surgery, Nephrology, Paediatric surgery and PET scan in DKS hospital. He has also made a financial provision of Rs. '21 crore in the State budget in the current financial year (2016-17).