Government Medical Colleges in Orissa

State Government Medical Colleges in Orissa:
SCB Medical College Cuttack
VSS Medical College Sambalpur
MKCG Medical College Berhampur
Capital (Hospital) Medical College Bhubaneswar
Medical College in Balasore (proposed)

Medical College proposed by Central Government Ministries in Orissa:
AIIMS like institute in Bhubaneswar
ESIC Medical College Bhubaneswar (better to make it in Balangir/Rourkela)
Medical College in Talcher by MCI (Ministry of Coal)
Medical College in Balasore by Defence Department (proposed)
Medical College under Central University of Orissa at Koraput
Medical College under IGNTU branch in Phulbani (proposed)

Private Medical Colleges in Orissa
KIMS Bhubaneswar
Hi-Tech Medical College Bhubaneswar
Sum & IMS medical College Bhubaneswar

There are many other private medical college proposals in Bhubaneswar, Puri (Vedanta University, world class hospital), Balasore, Koraput, Naraja (Cuttack), Choudwar (Cuttack), Berhampur, Kalahandi (through WODC), Balangir (through WODC), Rourkela (through WODC & others) that needs to be functional.

Social Need in KBK region
Private medical colleges & hospitals rarely fulfill need of poor people in place like Kalahandi or Balangir, where geographical location can be more valuable to save life. Many lives are being lost every year in the KBK region just because of this. When state Government is establishing Government medical colleges in other parts of Orissa where similar private one is being proposed, there is also no logic why simultaneously Government should not establish Government medical college in KBK, especially where it is absolutely necessary, when private one is being encouraged through WODC.

Best things to do for the state Government of Orissa:
1. State Government medical college in Sundergarh, the ideal would be if ESIC Medical College is not possible in Balangir due to members then establish it in Sundergarh (Rourkela)
2. State Government medical college in Kalahandi
3. State Government medical college in Balangir
4. State Government medical college in Keonjhar
5. State Government medical college in Mayurbhanj
6. Pursuing to convert VSS medical college to AIIMS type institution

A Letter by Professor Chitta Baral

Dear Esteemed Prime Minister and Health Minister:

Please do not play politics on the AIIMS-like institute in Bhubaneswar.

The foundation stone of this institute in Bhubaneswar was laid in 2003. In between 5 years of UPA government rule has passed in Delhi and nothing visible (beyond a boundary wall) has happened.

For the last 5 years, people of Orissa, representatives of Orissa (both MLAs, MPs), and Orissa CM have raised this issue and of no avail. In response to various parliament questions your ministers have always given one excuse or other for the delay.

And now for the first time Mr. Azad comes to Bhubaneswar and lays blame on the state government. (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/centre-to-setnew-aiims-branches-in-three-years/64962/on ). This is playing politics on peoples lives and their health.

While the UPA government made a lot of progress on many fields (such as starting of classes on the new IITs, RTI, NREGS etc.) it has been grossly incompetent on the AIIMS issue.

To solve a problem, one must first admit that there is a problem. Please admit that your health ministry has been grossly incompetent and start over from there.

Please don't play politics with people's lives and their health. Please start the AIIMS-like institute in Bhubaneswar as soon as possible and to compensate for the delay as well as to take care of the backward areas of Orissa please immediately upgrade one of the exisiting medical college in the backward Western or Southern Orissa (one in Behampur or Burla) to the AIIMS level.

In West Bengal your are making a new AIIMS as well as upgrading Calcutta Medical College. In UP you will have a new AIIMS and are upgrading 3 medical colleges to AIIMS level.

In Mahasrashtra, Tamil Nadu, J&K and Andhra Pradesh you are upgrading two medical colleges to the AIIMS level. All these has been compiled from your web sites and PIBs and put together at http://www.orissalinks.com/archives/2111 .

Why not in Orissa? I sincerely hope that it is not because you had or have friendly governments in West Bengal, Mahasrashtra, Tamil Nadu, J&K and Andhra Pradesh and are eyeing UP and don't really care about Orissa and its people?

Why do some other states get a new AIIMS as well as upgradation of multiple medical colleges to AIIMS level, and some get multiple upgradations to AIIMS level, while in Orissa no progress has happened for 5 years with respect to an announced AIIMS?

Sirs: Please pray tell us if this is not neglecting Orissa, what is?

Sirs: I again beg; Please do not play politics with people's lives and health. Please expedite the establishment of AIIMS in Bhubaneswar and update an exisiting medical college in the backward region of Orissa to the AIIMS level.

sincerely,

Chitta Baral
Professor, Arizona State University