Odisha government set to provide early medical admissions

Odisha: The state government here is all set to provide early medical admissions. The government has successfully created posts for GMC Koraput, GMC Baripada and GMC Balasore. The government has also appointed Dean-cum-Principals at the said medical colleges. The Centre had given permission for establishing these medical colleges few years back.

As a part of the initial plan only, the district headquarters hospitals (DHHs) at the four places were to be upgraded to medical colleges. Only GMC Puri was announced later.

On-ground reported further confirm that the GMC Koraput building is nearly constructed. Construction of building has also started at Rangamatia in Baripada and Remuna in Balasore.

The new appointments include Dr Bijayini Mohapatra and Dr Sarat Samal as as Dean-cum-Principal of GMC Koraput and GMC Baripada respectively.

Other departments like Anatomy, Physiology, Bio-Chemistry, Pathology, Micro Biology, Pharmacology, Forensic Medicine, Community Medicine, Psychiatry, Paediatric and General Surgery are now open. This is being done in view of providing medical admissions soon. More departments have also been opened.

A senior Health official said to the Express that the college at Koraput is expected to start admission process from 2017-18 academic year and those at Balasore and Baripada in 2018- 19. Initially, the colleges will offer MBBS course and after four years, they can offer PG courses. "The MCI officials are scheduled to visit Koraput college in November. In the initial stage, it will open 100 MBBS seats," the official informed.

The state government is also planning to recruit Group-C and Group-D employees on contractual basis. In addition, it has directed to outsource requirements for sanitation services.

Besides, the DHHs are to become 300-bed hospitals and offer 100 MBBS seats after upgradation. The estimated project cost is Rs 189 crore each, to be divided between the Centre and the State on 75:25 basis. Also, 109 crore for construction work, '30 crore for renovation of existing infrastructure and '50 crore for equipment has been allocated for each project.