CHENNAI: Following the Centre’s nod to establish three more medical colleges in the state, the total number of medical institutions in Tamil Nadu is all set to become 32. These colleges will be established in Krishnagiri, Nagapattinam, and Tiruvallur districts. The proposal was approved by the Union ministry of health and family welfare on Wednesday.
The expenses to build these medical colleges will be borne by both the state and Central governments, which will contribute 40 per cent and 60 per cent for its construction. In August this year, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs had approved the setting up of 75 government medical colleges in the country by 2021-22 under the third phase of a centrally sponsored scheme.
In all, 58 and 24 medical colleges were approved in the first and second phases of the project. Through this, the country would receive an additional 15,700 MBBS seats.
Thanking the Prime Minister for sanctioning the colleges, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami said, “The Centre has given its consent to set up nine medical colleges in the state so far. This is a historic achievement for the state.”
The Chief Minister also noted that the Centre’s permission was obtained in record time.
“The proposals were sent within a short period and lands for the colleges were allotted immediately,” he said. Till now, the Centre has sanctioned Rs 2,925 crore to set up nine new medical colleges in the state. A total of Rs 1,755 crore will be funded by the Centre while the state government will bear the remaining expense.
Speaking to reporters here, health and family welfare minister Dr C.Vijayabaskar informed that the tenders will be given to the potential bidders early in January next year and construction will commence soon.
The Centre had also announced that it would sanction Rs 325 crore for the construction of each medical college under this scheme.
In accordance with the same, the Centre will now contribute Rs 195 crore to the construction for each of these three new colleges.
Notably, earlier this year, the Centre had given its approval for the setting up of six new medical colleges in the state, at Ramanathapuram, Virudhunagar, Nilgiris, Dindigul, Tiruppur, and Namakkal respectively.
