Naveen Patnaik seeks aid for colleges

 

Earlier in September this year, Mr Patnaik wrote to Union minister for health and family welfare, J.P. Nadda, for release of the funds. However, it has received no communication from the ministry as yet. Construction of five new government medical colleges in the state with a project cost of '189 crore each taken up under Centrally-sponsored scheme “establishment of new medical college attached with existing district/referral hospital” with fund sharing pattern of 75:25 between the Centre and the state is going on in full swing, the letter said.

 

On completion of these colleges, it will go on a long way in addressing shortage of doctors in the state. Admission in the new medical colleges for MBBS students has been scheduled to commence from 2017-18 academic session. “My government on its part has made adequate budget provision for the project despite state’s financial crunch. Centre on its part has released '55 crore only, in three instalments, till date. If the required funds are not released to the State in time, I am afraid, construction of these five new medical colleges will be delayed leading to continued shortage of doctors in the state,” he added.