PNS | VIZIANAGARAM
Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has expressed optimism that the newly inaugurated government medical colleges will enhance tertiary and curative medical care while substantially reinforcing the public health system.
During the inauguration of Vizianagaram Medical College, located on a sprawling 33-acre campus on Friday, Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy virtually unveiled four additional medical colleges located in Machilipatnam, Rajahmundry, Eluru, and Nandyala.
Addressing a gathering of medical students and faculty members, the Chief Minister encouraged students to strive to become exemplary doctors and emphasised the high expectations that people have for medical students. Committed to the welfare of the underprivileged sections of society, the government has invested a staggering Rs 2,35,000 crore in Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) welfare schemes. Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy urged doctors to demonstrate a similar commitment to serving the less fortunate.
With the commencement of academic sessions at the five new Government Medical Colleges, the State has added 750 new MBBS seats to its existing capacity. Each of these new colleges was constructed at a cost of Rs 500 crore.
Chief Minister Reddy also revealed the government’s ambitious plan to construct 17 more medical colleges at a cost of Rs. 8,480 crore, ensuring that every one of the 26 districts will have its own medical college and attached hospital. This expansion will make specialised tertiary and curative medical care accessible to people across all districts.
An additional five medical colleges, currently under construction in Pulivendula, Paderu, Adoni, Markapur, and Madanapalle, are scheduled to begin operations next year. Furthermore, seven more colleges are set to be ready for the following year.
Once all the new colleges and their associated hospitals are operational, the number of MBBS seats will increase from 2185 to 4735, with all colleges offering an additional intake of 2737 postgraduate students. Over the past four years, the number of postgraduate seats has risen from 966 to 1767, including the addition of 609 new PG seats this year alone.
In conjunction with the establishment of new medical colleges and the modernization of hospitals under the Nadu-Nedu program, the government has filled 53,126 vacancies in the medical and Health department to meet the rising demand.
All five newly inaugurated medical colleges, which have nearly completed their admissions for the current year, are equipped with state-of-the-art facilities including laboratories, Interactive Flat Panels (IFPs), smart TVs, libraries, and advanced medical equipment to facilitate a seamless academic session.
During his tour of the classrooms and facilities, the Chief Minister inspected laboratories and a photo exhibition and spent quality time engaging with students and faculty while interacting with them.
On one of the IFPs, Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy inscribed the message, “Not all angels have wings, some have stethoscopes,” and added his signature.
He also mentioned that the government is in the process of upgrading the existing 11 medical colleges at an estimated cost of Rs. 3,280 crore under the ‘Nadu-Nedu’
programme. Furthermore, new nursing colleges are being established, adding an additional capacity of 1,200 seats.
In a bid to expand healthcare services, the government has increased the number of ailments and procedures covered from 1,000 to 3,255. Additionally, 10,032 fully staffed and equipped village clinics have been established to strengthen preventive healthcare, involving family doctors and providing 14 types of diagnostic tests and a stock of 105 types of WHO-standard medicines.
Besides the East Godavari, Nandyala, Krishna, and Eluru District Collectors, and students from the respective new medical colleges, postgraduate students from old medical colleges in Guntur and Tirupati also had the opportunity to virtually interact with the Chief Minister and express their delight at the inauguration of the new medical colleges.
Medical and Health Special Chief Secretary MT Krishna Babu highlighted that the government has allocated Rs. 4.5 crore to establish an e-library and expressed hope that students would benefit greatly from this resource. He also noted that students can gain admission to these medical colleges by paying a mere Rs. 10,000.
Deputy Chief Ministers P Rajanna Dora (Tribal Welfare) and B Muthyala Naidu (PR & RD), Medical & Health Minister V Rajani, Education Minister B Satyanarayana, Special CS (Medical & Health) MT Krishna Babu, District Collector Nagalakshmi, several MLAs, MLCs, and senior officials also participated in the programme.
