New Medical College with 100 MBBS seats to be Functional From 2022 in Odisha

The medical college being set up with the support of the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) is expected to function with 100 MBBS seats while the hospital will incorporate 500 beds.

According to a memorandum signed by the State Government with the NTPC in December, the state would provide 21 acres of land free of cost, and the medical college would be set up with a preliminary estimation of Rs 350 crore.

Following the demand of politicians, intellectuals, lawyers and the general public of western Odisha, the State chief secretary in November last year wrote a letter to the Union health secretary requesting for establishment of a second AIIMS at the infrastructure developed by NTPC for the proposed medical college, the minister informed the House. At present, the State has one AIIMS at Bhubaneswar.

In April this year, the Union health ministry had sent a Central team to make field verification of the proposed medical college and they have expressed satisfaction. The team had raised the requirement of 200 acres of land to set up the AIIMS, he further said, quotes Ommcom News

The minister said the State government can provide required land and financial assistance from District Mineral Fund (DMF) for establishing an AIIMS.

The State director of medical education and training had also submitted a proposal to the members of the Central team in April of last year. However, the Union government has not given any reply to this proposal, even after five months, he pointed out.

"If the Centre decides to set up the AIIMS at Sundergarh, the State government will provide all necessary support for it," Das assured.

A new medical college and hospital will be a major asset to the state and will aid in providing better healthcare facilities to the local population, especially at the threshold of the much dreaded third wave of covid-19.