Kerala Govt allocates Rs 100 crore for hospital project

Kozhikode, Dec 17 (UNI) The Kerala Government has allocated Rs 100 crore for turning Thiruvananthapuram Medical College into a superspeciality hospital, State Health Minister P K Sreemathy said here today.

Speaking on the inaugural function of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Kozhikode Medical College, she said a blueprint of the project is ready and work would start soon.

Ms Sreemathy said expansion work of the prestigious hospital, which was upgraded to AIIMS status by the Centre recently, was expected to be completed in two years on a time-bound programme.

She said the Left Democratic Front(LDF) government was also in the process of establishing two Nursing Colleges in the State.

Selection of students to the proposed 60 seat college each at Thrissur and Alleppey have already begun, she added.

The Government has also sanctioned Rs 50 crore for developing the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital she said, adding modernisation of the maternity centre would get utmost priority.

She said a proposal to make two-year rural service compulsory for post graduate students passing out of the medical colleges in the State was under the active consideration of the Government.

Inaugurating the Golden Jubilee celebrations, Chief Minister V S Achutanandan said his Government was committed to ensuring health care to all, especially the downtrodden.

Stating that globalistation was making its impact felt in the health sector too, Mr Achutanandan said efforts were being made by certain elements to wean away patients from the Government hospitals.

Calling upon the medical fraternity to ensure health care for all, the Chief Minister said efforts should also be made to eradicate the alleged rampant corruption prevailing in Government Hospitals in the State.

Referring to the Opposition United Democratic Front(UDF)'s demand for the resignation of the Health Minister, following the death of a 15-year student after administering vaccination in the district, he said ''the problems we are facing now are the offshot of their wrong-doings and efforts are on to correct them.'' UNI PCH VR PB RK1455