Ernakulam Government Medical College cath lab still a dream

KOCHI: The fate of the Cardiology Department at Ernakulam Government Medical College (EMC) remains uncertain with the Health Minister K.K. Shylaja citing lack of specialists under the director of Medical Education to be placed here. The minister did not comment about setting up a cath lab at the EMC as demanded by house surgeons in a meeting with her when she visited the medical college the other day.

Students pointed out to her in the meeting that district collector M.G. Rajamanickam had told them that he had Rs 5 cr given by some companies from their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds which could be used for setting up the cath lab and that he needed a proposal from the college authorities putting it down.  However, the collector who was also at the meeting intervened to correct them saying that he had not received the money but could make the fund available from corporates once a proposal was made.

However, the college authorities, especially the medical superintendent Dr Anilkumar told the minister that firstly, posts of cardiologists had to be created at the medical college and then a sufficient number of cardiologists had to be posted and then only facilities like cath lab needed to be added. Following this, the minister did not show much keenness in backing the proposal.

“Such approach of the college authorities strike at the root of the development of the medical college. We cannot expect funds to be available always.  When funds are available, facilities like cath lab have to be set up, otherwise, that money will go elsewhere. Simultaneously we need to move papers for creating posts of cardiologists and other specialists. There has to be such a proactive approach on the part of college authorities to save the medical college and such an effort is needed in the case of the cancer centre as well,” said a house surgeon at the medical college.

“When the Human Rights panel intervened in the issue some time ago as the students took it up with him, the college authorities sent a cath lab proposal to the DME. But they have not given one to the district collector who is the chairman of the Medical College Hospital Development Society,” said the student. He pointed out that former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had promised full-time cardiologists and a cath lab when he visited the college sometime back.

“He promised it would be set up in the spacious building adjacent to the cancer centre while the college authorities have plans to set it up at the current limited cardiology facility. The current facility is served by a part-time cardiologist and students are driven to Kottayam Medical College for studies as well. It has to come up at the new facility near the cancer centre,” said the student.