Sports Medicine Departments to come up at Medical Colleges

New Delhi: Recognising the crucial role of Sports Science in catering to the needs of athletes in the country, the Sports Ministry has identified five institutions where it will be help set up Sports Science Centres and Sports Medicine departments.

Earmarking a fund of Rs 25 crore, the ministry will help establish Sports Science Centres at Guru Nanak Dev University in Amritsar, Lakshmibai National Institute of Physical Education in Gwalior and National Institute of Nutrition in Hyderabad.

The Ministry will also provide a fund of Rs 12.50 crores for setting up Sports Medicine departments at Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi and at King George's Medical University in Lucknow.

Sports Secretary Rahul Bhatnagar, who recently took charge from Injeti Srinivas, informed that the fund will be given in a period of five years and after that Universities will sustain themselves.

"We need such steps. We have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with these Universities and Medical colleges since there is a need for such education and facilities," Bhatnagar said.

Several new courses such as Sports Biochemistry will be added to the University programmes.

"A few of these institutions did not have these courses before like Sports Physiotherapy and Sports Biochemistry but these will be taught and we will help in funding the faculty," Bhatnagar said.

At Vardhman Mahavir Medical College, the seats will be increased from five to between 8-10 and it will all begin from the next academic session, starting July 2018.