All three government medical colleges in the city are slated to receive funds for upgrading their furniture. The long-pending request of the institutions was finally acceded by the government. Recently, new buildings were commissioned for 13 medical colleges in the State by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa.
Sources in the health department said that Rs.10 crore was sanctioned for all the 18 colleges in the State. However, Madras Medical College has sought more funds than other colleges to furnish its new building. Hospital authorities are confident that the funds would be received shortly. The building was completed as early as last March but the college has not relocated from its present premises inside the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital as finishing touches have not been provided.
College authorities say they were regularly in communication with the health department seeking funds for buying furniture. At one point, the authorities were asked to shift the chairs and tables from the college to the new building. However, this was rendered impossible due to practical difficulties in dismantling the furniture. This was another reason for the inability of the college to shift to its new premises.
The new seven-storey building was constructed at an estimated Rs.56.63 crore. It will house eight basic sciences departments — anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology, pathology, microbiology, forensic medicine and community medicine. It will also have the largest library in the State at 43,000 sq. ft.
Stanley, Kilpauk and Chengalpet medical colleges have also been provided with new facilities built at a cost of Rs. 36.29 crore. At the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Egmore, a training centre for family planning programmes, built at a cost of Rs. 7 crore was commissioned and is ready to provide training for health workers, doctors and nurses.
MMC Dean V.Kanagasabai said electricity and water connections have been provided and the college is also expecting inspection by the MCI shortly.
