Goa: Plan to set up New Medical College

Panaji: In order to boost the medical education sector in the state which has now only one medical institute, Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), the Goa government is mulling over to set up a new medical college.

This state is going to get this proposed medical college after over 177 years when the first medical college was started. This medical college is reportedly going to have more MBBS seats and bed strength than the GMCH.

Confirming about the proposal, State Health Minister Vishwajit Rane stated to PTI that the government was considering a proposal to start a second medical college at Margao in South Goa district, attached to the upcoming district hospital.

"It is being planned in keeping up with the central government's vision to increase medical seats," health minister Vishwajit Rane told the media recently.

"I have had a discussion with the Union health minister about setting up a new medical college in the state. It will be located within a 10km radius of the new district hospital," Rane further informed

TOI.

The process to set up the college will start only when Chief Minister Pramod Sawant gives his nod, he added.

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"A new college will help us get more MBBS seats and more doctors," Rane said. The new college would be independent of the GMCH. "We will take a call on whether it would be a government or a private medical college," the minister added.

The existing Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), located at Bambolim near Panaji in North Goa, was established in 1842. The college churns out 150 MBBS graduates every year.

Goa Medical College and Hospital is a Government tertiary care hospital. This institute is the successor of the 'Escola Medico Cirungica de Goa' established by the Portuguese in the year 1842 and thus one of the oldest Centre of Medical Education in this part of the world.

In the year 1963, this Medical School was upgraded as Goa Medical College, attached to the Bombay University and later in the year 1983 affiliated to Goa University. This is one of the prestigious institutions of the country, recognized by the Medical Council of India (MCI).