Friday, January 8, 2010

Task Force rejects health varsity plan

The Statesman, Jan 8, 2010
Statesman News Service


BHUBANESWAR, 7 JAN: The sectoral consultative workshop of Task Force for higher education held here today mooted the idea of setting up a state health university. The workshop titled “Medical Education: Challenges and Prospects”, stressed on upgradation of the existing government medical colleges and hospitals as unitary universities. The participants also emphasised the role of private players in setting up of medical colleges and the public-private partnership in health care service and education.

Speaking at the occasion, health and family welfare minister Mr Prasanna Acharya highlighted the recent steps taken by the state government to improve medical education in Orissa, and also, expressed his concern over the state loosing out talented doctors to corporate sectors and research centres abroad. He welcomed the proposal for setting up more para-medical and nursing schools in the state.

While appreciating the efforts of the existing medical colleges of the state and the gradual improvement in the health indicators, state higher education minister Mr Debi Prasad Mishra called for bringing in synergy of research and innovation with medical education.

The task force chairman stressed on more priority on medical research in the medical colleges, and exhorted the participants to come out with suggestions to explore new and emerging areas of interdisciplinary research.

We must infuse the spirit of rural services among the students, suggested higher education secretary Mr MS Padhi while stressing on ways and means to improve the existing scenario.

Health secretary Mrs Anu Garg felt that the wide range of diseases in the state could be exploited for medical research and education, and also suggested outsourcing of non-clinical activities so that the doctors can focus on clinical services only. The second session witnessed a vibrant discussion on various issues related to health scenario and medical education in the state.

Principals of all the three government medical colleges, representatives of private hospitals and medical colleges, senior officers from health department and task force members attended the programme.

Note: There is conflicting news on Health University, see below.

Workshop focuses on medical varsity in State 
The Pioneer, Jan 9, 2010

PNS | Bhubaneswar

The Task Force for Higher Education held a sectoral consultative workshop on the topic ‘Medical education: Challenges and Prospects’ here on Thursday.

Minister for Health and Family Welfare Prasanna Acharya while inaugurating the meeting, gave a brief account of the recent steps taken by the State Government to improve medical education in the State.

Acharya liked the idea of setting up a State Health University. However, he thought that the existing Government medical colleges should first be upgraded to unitary universities. He expressed his concern over the State losing out talented doctors to the corporate sectors and research centres abroad. He reiterated the need for setting up more para-medical and nursing schools.

Minister for Higher Education Debi Prasad Mishra appreciated the efforts of the medical colleges of the State and was generally happy about the gradual improvement in the health indicators and called for bringing in synergy of research and innovation with medical education. He also invited private players to set up medical colleges and explore public-private partnership.

Dr Dhanadakant Mishra set the tone for the day by making a presentation of the background and activities of the Task Force. Health Secretary Anu Garg expressed her concern over the existence of a wide range of diseases in the State. She suggested outsourcing of non-clinical activities so that the doctors can focus on clinical services only.

Task Force head Prof Trilochan Pradhan laid emphasis on health education 'jaan hai to jahan hai'. He urged the participants to give suggestions to explore new and emerging areas of interdisciplinary research. Commissioner-cum-Secretary Higher Education Madhusudan Padhi said the spirit of rural services should be infused among students.

Principals of all the three Government medical colleges and representatives of some private medical institutions also participated in the discussion.

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