Odisha: Shri Jagannath Medical College with 100 MBBS seats likely to become functional from 2021-22 session

The Director of Medical Education and Training Dr CNK Mohanty has recently inspected the newly established Medical College and stated that all the necessary work related to infrastructure and administration is almost done and they are expecting to commence the classes from the coming academic session. After SJMCH becomes completely functional it is going to be the 8th medical college in the state.

Previously medical dialogues team reported that the state government directed the concerned officials to move NMC for necessary permission for the establishment of the proposed medical colleges and hospitals. The 3 medical colleges that were proposed by the authorities included Jagannath Medical College and Hospital at Puri and it is supposed to have 100 MBBS seats each year. Additional Chief Secretary health Pradeep Kumar Mahapatra, Director of Medical Education and Training Dr. Mohanty, and other officials reviewed the progress work after which the officials were directed to ensure complete furnishing of the building by December so that NMC's permission can be sought. 

Additional Chief Secretary of Health department PK Mohapatra said the government has applied for the Letter of Permission (LoP) to make the college functional from the 2021-22 session. "The NMC will grant permission after physical verification. The construction activities have been completed. We hope the Central team will visit soon and issue the LoP", he added.

Director of Medical Education and Training (DMET) Dr. CBK Mohanty has already paid a visit to the institution to inspect the newly developed infrastructure of the college on Wednesday. He told The New Indian Express, "The five-storey building, including classrooms, administrative office, laboratory and library, is ready. The only work left is the approach road to the building. We expect the classes to commence from the next academic session." 

The District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) will be linked to the medical college for holding clinical activities and practical classes as it has been made a mandatory prerequisite for starting a medical college under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY). According to the daily, DHH has also been upgraded to suit the purpose. Dr. Mohanty also informed that the state government has already started making provisions according to the budget so that another hospital can be developed and attached to the medical college later.

The Sri Jagannath Medical College and Hospital (SJMCH) at Puri is built at a cost of around `300 crore on an area of 33 acre, and it is the eighth government medical college in the State. As the college becomes functional, 100 additional medical seats will be added to the existing seat pool in the state, reports the daily. Then the total intake capacity of eight medical colleges in the State will be 1,350. Currently, there are seven government and four private MCHs in the State apart from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). Two more medical colleges are also about to be established at Phulbani in Kandhamal and Bhawanipatna in Kalahandi.