Poor infrastructure hits Idukki Medical College Hospital

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The fate of Idukki Medical College students is hanging in the balance as the state government is yet to put in place infrastructure facilities it required. The government has transferred students of the batch of 2014-15 and 2015-16 to state-run medical colleges in here, Kottayam, Kozhikode, Alappuzha and Thrissur. The decision was taken as classes had already commenced and the time available for teaching students in the second and third year of MBBS was very less.

But the executive committee of Medical Council of India came out strongly against the move. It termed the transfer as illegal and directed the government to annul the decision and shift them back to Idukki immediately. The government on its part stuck to its decision even while admitting that the transfer of students was carried out without MCI's permission. It sought Union health ministry’s intervention and urged to reject the MCI direction shifting them back as Idukki medical college had inferior infrastructure facilities.

Sources said that a section of officials was in favour of reviving Idukki Medical College by bringing back students ahead of their final term. In the meantime, the government could take steps on a war footing to improve infrastructure. The 60 odd faculty members who were earlier deputed for Idukki medical college and later shifted to medical colleges in Parippally, Alappuzha and Thrissur on working arrangement, could also be brought back.

This would strengthen departments. However, fulfilling all the MCI conditions is not going to be an easy task. The construction of buildings is at a snail’s pace. There is no accommodation worth the name for the faculty. The facilities at the existing general hospital attached to the medical college are inadequate, and the patient load is low.