A new government medical college in Kerala after 31 years

Chandy says eight new colleges will help achieve a leap in health sector

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy inaugurating the Government Medical College at Manjeri on Sunday. Photo: By Special Arrangement

The government intends to achieve a huge leap in the health sector and hence the decision to open eight new medical colleges, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has said.

Mr. Chandy was speaking after inaugurating a new Government Medical College at Manjeri on Sunday. The first medical college in the government sector in the State in 31 years — the one in Thrissur was inaugurated in 1982 — is a fulfilment of a long-cherished dream of the largest populated district in the State.

The college at Manjeri is the first of the eight in the pipeline. Groundwork for setting up government medical colleges in Kasaragod and Wayanad had been completed. The government would soon take a favourable decision on taking over the Cooperative Medical Colleges in Pariyaram and Kochi, Mr. Chandy told the thousands of people who had gathered at the venue, giving it a festive ambience.

The college would function from a five-storey building constructed for the Women and Children Hospital. As many as 100 students would be admitted in the first batch and 80 had joined. Classes had started, hospital sources said.

The students were being accommodated at the hostel functioning on the top floor of the General Hospital building.

Health Minister V.S. Sivakumar presided over the function.

Indian Union Muslim League president Syed Hyderali Shihab Thangal was the chief guest. Union Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed laid the foundation stone for the tutors’ residential block. Industries Minister P.K. Kunhalikutty and Finance Minister K.M. laid the foundation stones for an academic block and hostel block respectively.

Power Minister Aryadan Mohammed inaugurated the college library. Education Minister P.K. Abdu Rabb; Tourism Minister A.P. Anil Kumar; Urban Affairs Minister Manjalamkuzhi Ali; E.T. Mohammed Basheer and M.I. Shanavas, MPs; K.N.A. Khader, Abdurahman Randathani, P. Ubaidulla, C. Mammootty and P.K. Basheer, MLAs; district panchayat president Suhara Mampad; District Collector K. Biju; Manjeri Municipal Chairman Vallanchira Mohammedali; senior officials of the Health Department, and leaders of different political parties attended the function.

M. Ummer, MLA, welcomed the gathering.