The Telangana state government has released Rs. 450 crores for setting up of a new government medical college with an intake of 150 MBBS seats in Mahabubnagar district. As part of this, the state government has released a G.No. 95 and asked the concerned officials in the health department to speed up clearing all files pertaining to permission from Medical Council of India (MCI) by next academic year.

In addition to clearances from MCI, the government has already issued orders to health and medical department to construct college building and an attached hospital with 250-550 beds along with laboratories like pathology, microbiology, anatomy and radiology are expected to come up in a phased manner. For the first year, the government is planning to establish three departments viz., anatomy, biochemistry and physiology.

Already the medical and health department authorities have identified the land site for the medical college at Yedira village in Mahabubnagar. An area of 25 acres of land has already been earmarked near Tirumala Hills for the construction of the college building. Dr.C. Laxma Reddy, minister for health and family welfare, said, “At present more than 3 lakh students are competing for just 3900 medical seats in the state. With this new college it will ease competition and help the poor students to get in to MBBS. This will not only help the poor students but also help the poor people of this district to get high quality healthcare on par with super specialty hospitals.”

The minister further added that it is only a beginning, as promised by the chief minister earlier; the government also has plans to set up one government medical college and a super specialty hospital in every district in the coming years.

According to Dr M Ramani, director of medical education, the college will commence classes for the first batch from August 2016. “We have already sent a letter of permission to the Medical Council of India (MCI). We have also paid required fee and completed all formalities for getting the MCI nod for the new college. Hopefully we will receive their positive nod by next academic year,” she said.

Sources in the health department have also revealed that the government has already appointed Dr. Ashok Reddy, professor of mental health, Osmania Medical College as principal for this new upcoming medical college. “We are speeding up to get administration clearances and all files are cleared at a speedy pace to ensure everything is in place by next year. Already 35 doctors from district hospital have confirmed their intent to work as assistant professors and tutors. 30 more teaching faculty are also being roped in to meet the faculty requirements of the new college,” said Dr. Rambabu resident medical officer, District Hospital Mahabubnagar.