Kerala: Medical college and Hospital in Paripally to start functioning

Kerala : The ninth Medical College Hospital of the state will commence its functioning at Paripally from 9^th August. This is being done despite the Medical Council of India's nod still being in the pipeline. On an earlier occasion, the MCI had rejected the approval of MBBS seats at the medical college based on faculty shortage.

A 300 bed facility, with an operational out patient and in patient wing in the 1st phase, the hospital is likely to grow to become a 500 bedded hub in its second phase.Of the Rs. 540 crores designated, Rs.218 crore have already been spent on the infra structural construction of the project. Presently facilities like equipment for hospital and teaching, library, water supply, hostel facilities for students are being developed.

Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the hospital on August 9.

Regarding the medical college, the state government is still trying hard. "A fresh presentation for the commencement of this endeavour has been put up to the Lodha Committee for recognition,” said Rajeev Sadanandan, Additional Chief Secretary (health). The earlier faculty shortage reservation of the MCI has been overcome by recruitment of 32 doctors and order of paramedical staff being issued sometime this week.

"About 40 nursing staff and 40 para medical staff, including lab technicians will be joining here this week. Hence, we are beginning with the OPD and IPD wings. For running the 24 hour emergency service, we need more staff," said Dr K V Viswanathan, Superintendent, Paripally, Medical College and Hospital.

Hopeful of the Lodha Committee approval, Dr K V Viswanathan said "If the committee recommendations are in favour of us, then we will get the MCI nod. We have completed all necessary guidelines for beginning the first MBBS batch here."

Apart from the Medical College Hospitals in Thrissur, Kottayam, Kozhikode, Thiruvananthapuram, and Allappuzha, the previous UDF government had initiated facillities in Idukki, Manjeri and Palakkad,

The proposal for Konni and the second Medical College Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram have been kept 'on hold' by the LDF government.