Prof Chitta Baral advocates upgradation of MKCG into an AIIMS level institute

• Odisha should push hard to get both MKCG and VSS Medical Colleges upgraded to the AIIMS level argues Prof Baral
• 5 Medical Colleges in Uttar Pradesh, 2 Medical Colleges each in Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and 1 Medical College each in Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal,Jharkhand, M.P, Punjab, Rajasthan, Benagl are to be upgraded to AIIMS level
• Odisha is yet to put forth its demand for upgradation of any medical college to AIIMS level under the PMSSY.

Odisha is too complacent despite being one of the most backward States of the country. It is behind other States in terms of health parameters as well as medical colleges but the authorities are not pushing the Ministry of Health (MoH) in Delhi to have one or two of its medical colleges upgraded to AIIMS level, alleged leading non-resident Odia (NRO) Prof Chitta Baral of the Arizona State University. In a letter to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Chief Secretary Bijay Patnaik and the Health Secretary, Baral has suggested that Odisha must learn from Bihar and other States and push that its two medical colleges in the backward areas in Berhampur (MKCG Medical College) and Sambalpur (VSS Medical College) be upgraded to the AIIMS level. Showing his displeasure at the lack of initiative at the political and bureaucratic levels, Baral said that like Odisha, Bihar is having a new AIIMS-like institute. In the third phase of PMSSY, they will be getting two more of their medical colleges in Darbhanga and Muzaffarpur upgraded to AIIMS level. UP is even further ahead. They have approval for one new AIIMS like institute and five other institutions for upgradation.

Source: The Pioneer, Orissa Links