First open heart surgery was done at GMC in 1970
Gandhi Medical College building. (Photo: DC)
Hyderabad:The 60th anniversary celebrations of Gandhi Medical College, to be observed on September 14, brings focus on the history and the struggle that the college and hospital have been through.
On this occasion, members of the Gandhi Medical College Global Alliance have come together to share their experience of learning and practising in this college and the small attached hospital. Over 50 alumni from the US, Australia and the UK have come down for the anniversary celebrations.
The first open-heart surgery was done at the Gandhi Medical College as early as in 1970. GMH was originally the People’s Medical College, founded privately in 1954 because there was a huge demand for medical seats. As the private parties could not run it efficiently, they handed it over to the government in 1955-56.
Renamed Gandhi Medical College, the campus was moved from Humayunnagar, near the SD Eye Hospital, to Basheerbagh. The King Edward Memorial Hospital, which began as an infirmary in 1851, was renamed Gandhi Medical College in 1958 and attached to the college. The old GMH was located behind the Secunderabad railway station.
As there was little space at Basheerbagh, students struggled for over two decades to acquire 1.3 acres of land. The then Chief Minister Neelam Sanjeev Reddy inaugurated a block in the 1960s.
The college and hospital were shifted to the premises of the central jail Musheerabad in 2003. The college moved first to the new integrated campus, and the hospital began functioning from there in 2004.
Dr K. Ramesh Reddy, organising secretary for the anniversary, said, “The college holds a very important place in the state of Telangana.”
VIPs used to go to the GMH for treatment right till the 1980s. The GMH now is a 1,200-bed that carries out 11,000 major surgeries annually. The hospital HC The changing times have also brought new challenges for the hospital and the college.
Former superintendent Dr Nagabhusam said, “The glorious history of Gandhi Medical College is cherished by all its students. The new students must also work hard with the same dedication and meet the new challenges that they face.”
The unveiling of the statue of late Professor Jayashankar is going to take place on the college lawn. While some Telangana association doctors are objecting to it, Dr P. Srinivas, state secretary general of Telangana Doctors’ Association said, “The unveiling of the statue must not be politicised. The celebrations and standing of the GMC is very important. We have other serious issues to look.”
( Source : dc correspondent )
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