Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh on Saturday inaugurated a state-of-the-art surgical ICU, an ultra-modern seminar hall of ophthalmology department and two newly installed elevators at the MY Hospital. The Chief Minister also formally opened the two-day `Health Mela' bring organised by the MGM Medical College as a part of the 125the year celebrations of the KEH Medical School.
As against the request of Madhya Pradesh Minister for Medical Education Dr Vijaylaxmi Sadho, Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee Radhakishan Malviya and MGM Medical College Dean Dr D K Taneja, Digvijay Singh cleverly evaded the official declaration of efforts being made to obtain a PGI and deemed university status for the medical college, but assured that the state government would support the project in case the college management raises the funds required funds.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said that a similar proposal was forwarded around four years back, but further analysis proved that it was unviable. ``If the autonomous society of the college can raise funds to develop the required infrastructure, the state government will go all-out to support the cause,'' he said.
Highlighting the need for increasing the number of seats in the medical college, the Chief Minister said that such a decision can be made on the basis of bed-strength of the associated treatment facilities.
He said that efforts are being made to uplift the medical services and it has translated in arresting the decline in the number of OPD cases recorded at the MY Hospital. "The figures went down sharply in 1999-2000, but rose steadily thereafter," he pointed out.
Digvijay Singh advocated for teaching `patient psychology' to the medical students that would `inculcate a healing touch among the doctors and the medical staff'. Incentives to technicians would allow the hospital to keep the new machinery running and compete with the private players, he said.
The gathering was also addressed by Dr Sadho, Dr Taneja, and 125th year Celebration Committee Chief Coordinator Dr G C Sepaha. Dr Ms taneja conducted the programme.
The Chief Minister also visited the Health Mela where different college departments had installed their stalls depicting the work being carried out by them. The Mela also aims at disseminating information about medical facilities available at the associated treatment facilities.
The best stall award went to the Anatomy Department and the prize was collected by Department Head Dr Sudha Shrivastava. The college authorities also felicitated 84-year-old Dr Ramamurthy for his dedicated services to the medical college.
Earlier, a large crowd of school children visited the Health Mela and took down first-hand data on diseases and their prevention from the doctors, who eagerly passed on the information to the eager ears.