PG medicos oppose Relocation of Madras Medical College Hostel

New Delhi: The postgraduate (PG) medical residents of Madras Medical College (MMC) are upset with the decision of relocating the men's hostel, which is around 60 years old and located at Broadway.

Currently, it takes less than a kilometre walk for the doctors to reach Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH) from their hostel. However, the residents are worried that relocating the hostel would make it difficult for them to reach the hospital to attend emergency calls.

Writing to the authorities of the institute, the PG doctors have pointed out how they were posted on "weekly admission day duties and stay duties" round-the-clock and such duties may extend up to 36 to 48 hours.

They have argued that from their current hostel they can reach the hospital by walking and they do not have to depend on public transportation. However, if the resident quarters are located away from the location and it may affect patient care. Further, the PG medical students having disabilities would also find it difficult to commute to and from the hospital in case of relocation.

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As per the latest media report by The Hindu, officials have informed that the process for setting up a new hostel at Omandurar Estate has already begun. The hostel, which will be constructed at the cost of nearly Rs 130 crore, would be completed within at least a time period of 18 months. The Daily further adds that they were looking for a temporary accommodation but the PG medical students had registered their objection in this regard.

Former Chief Minister K.Kamaraj opened the MMC Hostel back on July 18, 1959. It has altogether 342 rooms and around 430 occupants. Currently the PG medical students including the super speciality students stay at the facility.

PG doctors have informed the daily on the condition of anonymity that issuing a Government Order on April 20, 2022, the State Government ordered transfer of land measuring 4.24 acres classified as ‘Government Poramboke - Medical Department’ in favour of the Judicial Department for the purpose of building the combined court buildings.

This decision was taken on the basis of a proposal by the District Collector, Chennai, the recommendation of the Commissioner of Land Administration and in compliance with a decision taken in the Secretariat Level Committee Meeting.

According to the order, the Director of Medical Education gave its consent to part with the land subject to allocation of alternative land at the Government Estate, Triplicane. 

However, the PG medical students are not happy with the decision of relocation as they have pointed out how they end up working round-the-clock. Commenting on this, one of the students told The Hindu, “For instance, surgery and orthopaedics PGs have admission days on Monday and return after 36 to 48 hours of work. They are proposing that PGs can be moved to the National Institute of Ageing premises in Guindy. How do they expect us to travel so far?”

Another PG doctor pointed out that relocating the hostel might ultimately affect the patient care as the doctors will be required some kind of transportation to reach the hospital for their duties. “No suggestions were asked from us nor was there any information,” opined another doctor.

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