Ernakulam Government Medical College to get Rs 368-crore boost

KOCHI: Giving a fillip to the development aspirations of the Ernakulam Government Medical College (EMC), the state government has given administration sanction for the  Rs 368.74- cr expansion project of the medical college. An order to this effect has been issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department. The project will now go to the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) for getting investment.

The master plan for the project was prepared by the PWD on the initiative  of  college principal Dr V.K. Sreekala. The detailed project report (DPR) was prepared by the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) and submitted to the government. The new expansion plans include building a super-specialty block, PG and staff quarters and indoor stadium and auditorium. “This is a positive move and we are  waiting for the investment to come,” Dr Sreekala told DC.

The physical infrastructure of the new hospital block is estimated to cost Rs 213.93 crore. The super-specialty wings to come include nephrology, gastroenterology, cardiology, neurology, neuro surgery  and others. The equipment, furniture and furnishing will cost another  Rs 27.80 crore. The staff quarters will cost  Rs 78.84 crore while PG quarters will cost Rs 29.56 crore. The common amenities centre to come up as part of the project will cost Rs 12.23 crore while indoor stadium cum auditorium and gymnasium will cost  Rs 6.38 crore.

“We are also looking forward to realization of the expansion plans of the medical college. Getting funds for the project can be a real challenge and realization of it is vital to the progress of the public health institution. The personnel employed at the medical college too need to show commitment  to serve the poor and middle class sections of the society,” said Dr N.K. Sanil Kumar of Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer Movement.