Efforts to make State destination for medical education

KANCHEEPURAM: All-out efforts are being taken to make Tamil Nadu as a preferred destination for medical education, according to Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin.

Addressing a function held at Chinna Kolambakkam near Madurantakam on Monday to mark the inauguration of Karpaga Vinayaga Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Institute, the Deputy Chief Minister claimed that the State has already had more medical colleges in its domain compared to other States. The present Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government, as soon as it took over the regime in 2006, decided to ensure that almost all the districts in Tamil Nadu had a medical college.

Subsequently, it was decided to initiate steps for setting up of medical colleges in Villupuram, Dharmapuri, Tiruvarur, Perambalur and Sivagangai districts. While the medical college in Dharmapuri has been set up by the government and had started functioning from last year, the proposals for other four districts were being pursued seriously.

In order to achieve this objective, it was decided to encourage private medical colleges and several incentives/special packages were offered to those in the private sector who came forward to set up medical colleges. Proposals which complied with the guidelines of Indian Medical Association had been accepted and forwarded for clearance from the Medical Council of India.

At present, 15 medical colleges, one dental college, two physiotherapy colleges, two nursing colleges and 21 nursing training institutes were functioning under the control of the Health Department. A total of 17 dental colleges, run by the private sector, were functioning in the State.

Commending the services rendered by Karpaga Vinayaga Educational Trust, founded by the former Union Minister, S. Regupathy, in the field of education, Mr. Stalin said that during the last three years, a total of 5,411 doctors had been appointed in government-run hospitals and primary health centres throughout the State and 5,183 nurses, 1,262 village health nurses and 9,000 paramedical staff had been recruited to provide best health care for the public, he added.
10 colleges

Speaking on the occasion, Health and Family Welfare Minister M.R.K. Panneerselvam said 10 private medical colleges were functioning in the State and the KVIMS and RI was the sixth medical college that was set up in Kancheepuram district.

Backward Classes Minister K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran; Labour Welfare Minister T.M.Anbarasan; former Union Minister and founder, KVET, S. Regupathy; chairman, KVET, S.Valliappan; Collector Santosh K.Misra and others participated in the function.