Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

PMSSY work at medical college reviewed

Thiruvananthapuram: The Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram is reportedly ahead of 12 other medical colleges in the country in implementing development activities under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) of the Union Ministry of Health.

The assessment had been made by a high-level team headed by Union Health Additional Secretary K. Balachandran, in charge of PMSSY.

The team arrived here on Sunday after visiting 12 other medical colleges where works under PMSSY had been taken up. The team noted that development activities were being implemented at a ‘fast pace.’

The team visited the super specialty block, the medical lab technology block and the out patient block that are being constructed on the medical college premises under the PMSY. In 2006, as many as 13 medical colleges were chosen for being converted to ‘Centres of Excellence’ under the PMSSY.

The Centre had sanctioned Rs.100 crore for the upgrade of medical college. The State government had pumped in another Rs.20 crore.

A super speciality block, a postgraduate block and a new laboratory block and a Nursing College are being constructed with the Rs.100 crore grant. The new multi-storey out patient block is being constructed with the Rs.20 crore.

The seven-storey super speciality block is coming up near the mortuary of the hospital. The work on the structure basement, ground floor and first floor had been completed. Hindustan Latex Limited is the executing agency for the project.

A new road will be constructed from Ulloor to the super speciality block to avoid traffic congestion at the medical college junction. The work was being reviewed every week, sources said.

Steps to purchase high-tech machines at a cost of Rs.50 crore for the medical college is progressing. Equipment for MRI and CT scan, ventilators, heart lung machine and HDR system and a CT simulator are among the machines to be procured.

Health and Family Welfare Secretary Vishwas Mehta had assured the Central team that the machines will be made available when the construction activities are completed by June 2009.

The Central team also held discussions with Medical Education Director V. Geetha, Medical College Principal Ramdas Pisharody and PMSSY Special Officer A.V. Remadevi.

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