Rs 3000 cr project for medical colleges, cancer facilities; panel appointed for acceleration

Mumbai: A high-level task force headed by Medical Education Secretary, Sanjay Deshmukh was appointed by Medical Education Minister Girish Mahajan, on Tuesday, to draft a plan for the development of medical colleges and cancer research departments. Rs. 3000 crore has been allocated by the government for these upcoming projects.

Besides Deshmukh, Joint Director, TP Lahane (erstwhile J J Hospital dean), Tata Hospital, Director, Kailash Sharma, Miraj Medical College, Dean, Pallavi Saple, former Professor Krishna Kamble and deans of government medical colleges, Nagpur and Aurangabad are members of this appointed team.

While Lahane shoulders the task of completing the super-speciality branch of J J Hospital, Sharma has been asked to take the responsibility of developing cancer hospitals reports TOI. The other panel members have been assigned the task of setting up cancer research hospitals in the selected districts of the state.

Speaking to TOI, Mr. Deshmukh revealed that a task force has been set up to ensure speedy completion of projects.

“The task force’s responsibility will submit a comprehensive proposal to the government and ensure that funds earmarked for the project are utilized properly and for the work, funds have been sanctioned,” Deshmukh informed.

The state has come under criticism for ‘failing’ health infrastructure in semi-urban and rural regions.

The projects that are going to be accelerated under this development plan include:

• a Rs 1000 crore project for the super-speciality branch of J J Hospital


• a government medical college at Chandrapur,

A sum of Rs 250 crore has been allocated for Indira Gandhi Medical College, Nagpur’s medicine unit.

While the orange city is to get Rs 25 crore for a government dental college, Rs 15 crore for another spine care centre and Rs 120 crore for a cancer hospital.