Thiruvananthapuram: Despite raising stiff opposition to the new medical colleges announced by UDF and even questioning the need for opening such institutions like grocery, the Pinarayi Vijayan government has decided to go ahead with these projects. Finance Minister T M Thomas Isaac in his budget speech made it clear that the LDF Government was not going back on these projects.
However, he said the work on new medical colleges would be carried out in a phased manner after putting in place required infrastructure facilities, faculty, non teaching staff, hostels and other facilities. Besides, the financial viability of these projects will also be taken into consideration. Of the Rs 394 crore set aside for medical education, Rs 22.5 crore will be spent for medical university. Of the Rs 121 crore set aside for medical colleges, capital expenditure has not been earmarked for six medical colleges.
The government reiterated the announcement on raising the standard of Thiruvananthapuram Medical College to the level of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). The money required for construction activities and installing equipment for raising the health care facilities, will be utilised from the recession package.
