HYDERABAD: In nine years since the formation of Telangana state, under the leadership of Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao, there was a medical education revolution underway in the state, said health minister T. Harish Rao, a day before the BRS government was set to formally inaugurate nine medical colleges in different districts.
The Chief Minister would virtually inaugurate new medical colleges in Kamareddy, Karimnagar, Khammam, Jayashankar Bhupalapally, Komaram Bheem Asifabad, Nirmal, Rajanna Sircilla, Vikarabad and Janagama districts on Friday, all funded by the state, which will all begin operations simultaneously.
Speaking exclusively to Deccan Chronicle, Harish Rao said, “…as a consequence of the visionary and transformative governance of CM KCR, Telangana tops in producing both foodgrain and doctors. There were five medical colleges in 10 districts of Telangana before bifurcation. Under Dr Y. S. Rajashekar Reddy, Rayalaseema with four districts got its fourth medical college in Kadapa, besides its three existing ones in Tirupati, Chittoor and Anantapur. But they would not give one to Telangana. Today, we are set to establish nine more new medical colleges in our state.”
Speaking about the growth of medical education in Telangana since bifurcation, Rao said, “We used to produce 2,850 doctors each year. We started eight medical colleges last year in one go and tomorrow, we will add nine more. We will do eight more next year. We will be converting 10,000 school students into doctors each year across both public and private institutions, which is a matter of great pride, being the highest in India.”
Currently, Telangana stands out by offering 22 MBBS seats per lakh population and in terms of new seats being added for the academic year, the state’s share nationwide is 43 per cent, he said, adding that while only two government medical colleges were established in 60 years of rule by various parties. “During CM KCR’s regime, 21 government medical colleges were established. Before the formation of Telangana, there were only 850 medical seats here, but now, it has increased to 3,690 seats across 26 medical colleges,” he said.
Discussing the excruciating standards and qualification requirements for setting up a medical college, he said, “It is not easy to set up a medical college. The National Medical Council has to be satisfied about all parameters – the hospital, patients, quality of education, teaching staff and infrastructure.”
When asked about the rapid scale-up of medical colleges, Harish Rao said, “Previous governments did precious little. We had five medical colleges – one established by the Nizam before Independence, two established by private philanthropic bodies, which the government took over subsequently. The two medical colleges in Hyderabad, Osmania (set up in 1856) and Gandhi (1954), and Kakatiya Medical College in Warangal (1959), found little support or upgradation over the years. Today, Telangana tops, in the doctors-per-one-lakh citizens (chart). We are second in the number of post-graduation students per year, but will top even that by the end of next year.”
On the public impact of medical colleges, Rao said, “Earlier, our students had to go either Andhra or abroad, to places like Russia, China and Philippines. Some would have to go to Karnataka or Maharashtra, but had to pay huge donations. Today, at Rs 10,000 per year for half the students, we are offering the lowest cost for producing a doctor. Look at the students’ profiles – common people and poor families are now able to send their children to become doctors in Telangana.”
Each medical college has a huge impact on the area, from providing a very good tertiary hospital in each district, with nearly 150 doctors and good care, to providing opportunities for youth to become medical professionals, create employment and help in development with direct investment, he said.
“Across Hyderabad, we are adding four new TIMS, besides upgrading NIMS to 2,000-beds from 800 strength. We are also focusing on primary healthcare, with over 350 basti dawakhanas, which have reduced the burden on the OPDs of big hospitals,” he said.
In a few years, Telangana will showcase itself to the country as a standard to match, in both healthcare and medical education, he said.
