Kerala: Kollam Medical College gets MCI approval for Ist year MBBS batch

Thiruvanathapuram: The state Government’s proposal to start a 100 seat MBBS course, for the current academic session at Government Medical College, Kollam has finally received the Medical Council of India’s(MCI) assent.

35 of the 100 seats will be reserved for the children of ESIC employees, who qualify the examination.

The LDF government, last year, had decided to try for the MCI recognition for the college by immediately fulfilling the necessary infra structural requirements needed to initiate the Ist year MBBS classes.

The government besides creating new posts had also moved faculty positions from Idukki Medical College, as well as, the General Hospital campus in the capital to make up for the deficiency of faculty. However, last year, the MCI had refused to grant permission to open up MBBS admissions, despite all efforts made on the part of the state government.

The government in a renewed attempt has created 390 new positions in the college; these are inclusive of 108 faculty and ministerial staff and 282 nursing and paramedical staff

The 500-bed hospital , with 300 beds fully operational, with facilities, including operation theatres, surgical, paediatric and medical intensive care units, and a full-fledged blood bank, is already in operation . 1,500 outpatients visit various clinics on a daily basis. Approximately, 180 -200 inpatients get admitted, on an average on all days, reports Hindu.

The Health Minister K.K. Shylaja in a statement said that despite predictions from various quarters that the college was a non starter, the state has made genuine efforts to get the academic division of the college, take off this year.

The Lodha Committee appointed by the Supreme Court to monitor the functioning of the MCI, has been tabled the college file and the government is awaiting the final nod from the Committee, added the statement .

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