No relief for medical college

Ernakulam’s long-standing demand to set up a medical college was completely ignored in the State Budget. File Photo

The State Budget dashed all hopes of a medical college being set up in Ernakulam. While the Budget on Friday set aside funds for a second medical college in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam’s long-standing demand was completely ignored.

Active campaign

Last year saw an active campaign to get a medical college set up in the district. Legislators from Ernakulam put forward the demand to the State government on several occasions. Bringing the ailing Co-operative Medical College (CMC) at Kalamassery under the State was considered more viable compared to setting up a brand new institute.

“The UDF government has agreed to consider the demand for taking over CMC. The only question now is when they are going to implement it,” said P.G.R. Pillai, chief medical adviser to the State government.

The Co-operative Academy of Professional Education (CAPE), which runs CMC, had requested the government to take over the institute six months ago.

The college’s future now remains uncertain as the government’s only comment so far has been that it was “considering” a takeover.