Port Blair, Aug 21: The Andaman and Nicobar Administration is in the process of establishing a Medical College at Port Blair from the next academic session viz. 2015-16. It is a matter of pride for the Islanders who would be blessed in numerous ways after the onset the Medical College which is a long cherished dream finally going to fructify.
The matter of establishment of Medical College in the Islands started afresh in 2005, after a PIL and subsequent judgement of the Hon’ble High Court of Calcutta, Port Blair Bench in 2008, wherein, the Hon’ble Court passed a judgement to implement the recommendations of Expert Committee to establish a Medical College in the Islands. Many deliberations were made since 2008 in this regard and it was finally decided that A & N Administration shall utilize the opportunity under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for “establishment of new Medical Colleges attached with existing District/Referral Hospitals”.
It is also pertinent to point out that Hon’ble Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Harsh Vardhan has informed the Parliament, while replying to a question No. 1260 dated 18.07.2014 that the G. B. Pant Hospital has been identified for establishment of a new Medical College under the newly implemented scheme. Thus the A & N Administration has taken a giant step towards establishing the Medical College from the next academic session in 2015-16.
In these Islands which are cut off from mainland India, there is acute shortage of specialized health care services and serious and needy patients are forced to proceed to mainland institutions, which not only causes financial hardship, but also several inconveniences to patients and their attendants. With the establishment of Medical College in these Islands, the healthcare standards will immensely go up, as all the Specialized Healthcare Services will be available in these Islands, itself.
Earlier A & N Administration had been providing 18 MBBS seats to eligible students of these islands under reserved seats allocated from Government of India, which has subsequently been reduced to 14. Many of the parents of the eligible students had to shell out huge amounts to nurture the dream of making their wards doctors. Setting up of Medical College in this UT will be able to provide more than 75 MBBS seats to the local students, which would be a great boon to the Islanders.
In addition to the above, there will be following other benefits like:
• Employment generation for Doctors, paramedics, nurses, support staff.
• Various training school and colleges for Dental, Nursing, paramedics and other technological courses.
• This will be a boon to local economy as there will be growth in many related sectors like transport, medical tourism and business in health sector (supply of consumables, equipment, medicines etc.)
• The life expectancy of the population will also increase considerably, due to better medical care.
The Union Territory totally depends on the financial support of Central Government not only in developing infrastructures but also in maintaining and operating such infrastructures. In order to provide universal health coverage at an affordable cost, it is essential that the Medical College must be established in government sector. It may be appreciated that the Administration is at present providing free medical treatment to the Islanders. The past experience of the Administration in various projects taken up under Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode is not encouraging. It is heartening to note that the Central Government has already included A & N Islands under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for “establishment of new Medical Colleges attached with existing District/Referral Hospitals”. After establishing the college, the recurring expenditure will also be met by the Central Government. There is distinct possibility to upgrade the new Medical College to run Postgraduate courses in the near future. Further, Paramedical courses namely Nursing, Radiographers, various medical technologists etc can be started in the proposed Medical College, which will provide job opportunities to the young generation. The staff who will join the Medical College, will render specialty treatment to the Islanders free of cost.
Thus the setting up of Medical College is a harbinger, to bring a better and healthy life for every Islander. The Administration solicits the support and blessings of all Islanders in this noble endeavour.
