Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, June 9: The Centre has fixed Rs 945 crore for five new Government Medical Colleges (GMCs) in Jammu and Kashmir, the foundation stone of two of which will be laid by Union Minister for Health and Medical Education Jagat Prakash Nadda and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti in Kathua and Doda tomorrow.
“All five Medical Colleges have been allocated 100 MBBS seats each that would increase tally of the Medical seats in Jammu and Kashmir by 500 after two years, the deadline set for completion and operationalization of the five GMCs,” official sources told the Excelsior.
Union Minister of State in Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Dr Jitendra Singh, Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh and Health and Medical Education Minister Bali Bhagat would accompany Nadda during foundation laying of two new GMCs at Kathua and Doda, both of which fall in Udhampur-Doda Lok Sabha constituency, held by Dr Jitendra Singh.
Sources told the Excelsior that the Evaluation Committee of the Union Ministry for Health and Medical Education has fixed Rs 945 crores for five new Medical Colleges of Jammu and Kashmir, which would come up at Doda, Kathua and Rajouri (all three in Jammu region), Anantnag and Baramulla (both in Kashmir division).
“This way, the cost of each Medical College would come around Rs 189 crores,” sources said, adding the new Medical Colleges would give major boost to health infrastructure in the State especially in the semi-urban and rural belts.
Health and Medical Education Minister Bali Bhagat told the Excelsior that the Centre has agreed to bear 90 per cent of total cost of all five Medical Colleges while the State Government had to contribute only 10 per cent. He added that each Medical College would have the strength of 500 beds and a total of 2500 beds would be added when five new Colleges come up in the State, for which a deadline of two years has been set.
“Out of Rs 189 crores earmarked for each upcoming Medical College, Rs 69 crores will be used for construction work, Rs 40 crore for hostel/faculty residences, Rs 30 crore for up gradation of teaching/nearby district hospital and Rs 50 crore for procurement of machinery/ equipments,” Bhagat said.
According to sources, each Medical College would be allocated 100 MBBS seats. With five new Colleges, Jammu and Kashmir would benefit by 500 additional MBBS seats after two years, they said. Presently, lone Government Medical College in Jammu has 150 MBBS seats. The GMC Srinagar has also an equal number of seats while Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Science, Soura has 100 Medical seats.
Sources said the Evaluation Committee has identified requirement of 675 faculty members and technical staff that would be required for running five new Medical Colleges in the State. Process for engaging such a large number of faculty and technical staff would be started well in advance so that the Medical Colleges are made operational well in time, they added.
Sources pointed out that allocation of new Medical Colleges has been made in such a way that they cater their surrounding areas to reduce burden on lone Government Medical Colleges in Jammu.
While Kathua Medical College would cater to Bani-Basohli-Billawar-Hiranagar belt, Doda Medical College would take the patients from Bhaderwah-Kishtwar-Ramban-Banihal-Batote and surroundings. Similarly, Rajouri Medical College would tackle the needs of twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri.
Similarly, Anantnag and Baramulla Medical Colleges would cater to South and North Kashmir, sources said.
Meanwhile, Health and Medical Education Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, MoS in PMO Dr Jitendra Singh, Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh and Health Minister Bali Bhagat would lay foundation stone of Kathua Medical College at 10 am tomorrow and Doda Medical College at 12 noon.
The foundation stone of Rajouri, Anantnag and Baramulla Medical Colleges was laid by Nadda on May 15 last year. The foundation of Doda and Kathua Medical Colleges was delayed due to land acquirement.
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