Kerala Govt assures Rs 300 crores for new medical college at Wayanad
Thiruvananthapuram: In an attempt to make the long-due dream of a government medical college in Wayanad district, Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) will be allocating Rs 300 crores for the new medical college that will be realized in 2021-22.
Confirmation to this effect has been given by the Finance Minister Dr Thomas Isaac on Friday while presenting Kerala's annual budget 2021.
Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported that Kerala Government had turned down the proposal moved by Azad Moopen backed DM Educational Research Foundation (DMERF) to takeover DM Wayanad Institute of Medical Sciences (DM WIMS) medical college and associated institutions in Wayanad.
In July 2020, the DM WIMS management had come forward with the proposal to hand over its colleges and associated infrastructure to the state government as it had been planning to set up a Government medical college in the district to help the local communities provide quality healthcare services.
With the proposal of DMERF, the Kerala Government had formed a committee of seven members to study the feasibility of the proposal. Based on the findings of the high-power committee monitored by the Chief Secretary, the Government had rejected the takeover proposal.
Dropping the previous proposal by DMERF, the government had termed the proposed plan as "impractical." Instead, it had planned to set up its own government medical college in the Wayanad district.
Read Also: Kerala Govt Rejects Plan To Takeover DM WIMS
As per the recent media report by the Mathrubhumi, Finance Minister Dr. Thomas Issac informed that the Wayanad Medical college, a long-time dream of the locals, would be realized in 2021-22. He further added that the new medical college will have a Hemoglobinopathy Research and Care Centre for studying genetic disorders like sickle cell anemia.
UNI reports that Dr. M I Sahadullah; Chairman, KIMSHEALTH has termed the Kerala budget as overall a good and helpful budget for the growth and development of the healthcare sector where 4,000 new positions are going to be created.
While responding to the Kerala Budget proposals relating to the health sector presented to the State Assembly recently, he said, But It would have been ideal if the State had declared the Healthcare Sector as a priority sector in the light of the Covid-19 pandemic and the massive vaccination drive."
He also mentioned, "The Rs120 crores for Medical College up-gradation could raise the standard of medical education and KIIFB's allocation of Rs 300 crore for the Wayanad Medical College could fill the gap of high-quality medical care in North Kerala."
The Afternoon OP, lab facilities in PHC (Public Health Centre) is a patient-friendly approach and the first 48 hours of free treatment in road accidents is a life-saving step.
The 500 post-doctoral fellowships announced could encourage medical research which is at present totally lacking in the medical education sector.
The Rs 24 crores for the medical device park could facilitate young entrepreneurs to produce cost-effective gadgets and the Pharma park to be set up for bulk drug production of medicines will be a cost-saving measure.
"Moreover, the allocation of Rs 30 cores for geriatric care facilities is a long-awaited requirement and the Karunya at the Home project to deliver medicines for senior citizens is most welcome," he added.
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