Kerala: Health Dept approves of the Rs 368 crore GMC Ernakulam master plan

KOCHI: In what can be seen as a landmark in the history of Government Medical College, (GMC) Ernakulam, the health department has given administrative sanction for the Rs 368-crore master plan for the college. The project having already been placed in the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIFBI), now awaits the board meeting of KIFBI scheduled in February. The meeting would allocate funds for the master plan projects.

The envisaged construction planned by the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation(KSIDC) includes Rs 241-crore super-specialty block, common amenities centre,staff and PG quarters, and an indoor stadium-cum-auditorium and gymnasium at a cost of Rs 127 crore.

"Our plan is to elevate the medical college to the standards of other government medical colleges in the state. In the next four years, the government expects to bring in a sea change in the facilities and services at the college," said Health Minister, K K Shailaja.

Taken over by the state government from the Cooperative Academy of Professional Excellence ( CAPE) in 2013, it has stayed behind others in the league with its budgetary allocation never crossing the Rs.15 crore mark.

According to Health Minister Ms. Shailaja, the huge sanction granted to the college will automatically help it overcome infrastructural and faculty constraints.

"Creation of posts is a big issue. Still, the government will take measures to provide adequate faculty and other staff."

The other drawbacks faced by the college include integration of staff, employees recruited by CAPE not having been integrated into the government mainstream, and the lack of many other basic facilities.

Rs. 6.38 cr, yet to be constructed indoor stadium on the college premises will bring it amidst the hub of International health conferences.

"As of now, there are few venues for holding conferences and seminars on health in Kochi. Such events are being held in hotels. Once the auditorium is ready, all such events can be conducted in the college itself. Besides adding revenue to the medical college, students of the college will get chances to rub shoulders with internationally renowned scientists and researchers in the field of health science," an official with the medical college said and TOI reported.

Welcoming the government move to develop the college, Sanil Kumar of Justice Krishna Iyer Movement said, "This is the greatest support to the medical college ever given by the government. It will certainly help address a lot of issues faced by the college."