The State government has finally managed to launch work on the proposed medical college at Haripad, nearly four years after the project was announced. The project gained momentum with Chief Minister Oommen Chandy laying the foundation stone on a plot of 25 acres at Karuvatta, near Haripad, on May 12.
The impressive growth of the Cochin international airport has encouraged the government to emulate its strategy and take up the Haripad medical college project under public-private partnership (PPP) mode, a first-of-its kind endeavour in the health care sector in the State.
The plan was to establish the medical college on a 25-acre plot at Nangiarkulangara that was under the ownership of National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), Kayamkulam. However, the proposal was dropped after the State government and the public sector company disagreed over the proposal and are currently involved in a legal battle.It was recently that the current plot was identified near the electrical substation of the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) in Karuvatta grama panchayat. While the land acquisition is in its final stages, the Revenue Department is making efforts to acquire 30 acres in view of the future expansion of the college.
First phaseThe medical college will begin functioning within 18 months, soon after the construction of the first building in the complex. The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has sanctioned Rs.90 crore for the first-phase development of the college. In addition, the State government has sanctioned Rs.20 crore for land acquisition and related expenses. Work to the tune of Rs.300 crore will be undertaken in the initial phase.
At a recent press conference, Home Minister and Haripad MLA Ramesh Chennithala said the total cost of the project was estimated to be Rs.800 crore, and the medical college was expected to be fully operational within eight years. He said the hospital would have a 500-bed strength. Admissions would be conducted to 100 MBBS seats subject to the approval of the Medical Council of India.
The college will function under a governing body that will be chaired by the Chief Minister. Other members of the body will include the Health Minister, Health Secretary, Director of Medical Education, Director of Health Services, Member of Parliament representing the Alappuzha Parliamentary constituency, and Member of Legislative Assembly representing Haripad.
Chief Medical Adviser to the State government P.G.R. Pillai will be the special officer for the medical college.
Funds will be raised for the medical college by offering shares of Rs.1,000 each to the public, official sources said. The face value of the shares has been fixed in a manner that encourages public participation. The institution will come under the control of the State government, which will own majority shares.
The proposed college will have 28 specialty departments, over 250 postgraduate doctors, and nearly 650 other staff members.
In addition, nursing and pharmacy colleges are planned to be set up on the premises.
A preliminary study estimates that nearly 1,500 people will visit the hospital every day seeking medical attention. A maximum of 50 operations can be conducted daily at the hospital when it starts full operations, the study says.
As per the project, below the poverty line (BPL) cardholders in Alappuzha district and every resident of the Haripad Assembly constituency will be provided free treatment to the tune of Rs.2 lakh every year at the hospital.
The realisation of the Haripad medical college project is expected to lessen the pressure on Government T.D. Medical College at Vandanam, Alappuzha, and facilitate timely medical treatment for patients from the region and adjoining districts.
