SOSA demands upgradation of MKCG Medical College, Berhampur to AIIMS-like Institution

Hon’ble Chief Minister Sir,

As you are aware, Maharaja Krishna Chandra Gajapati (MKCG) Medical College & Hospital in Berhampur, Odisha is completing the 50th year of its establishment this week. Established in 1962 and named after the architect of Modern Odisha, Maharaja Shri Krishna Chandra Gajapati, the medical college is the only referral hospital for the backward districts of KBK, Boudh, Kandhamal and Gajapati of south Odisha.

This half century old Institution is considered as the lifeline of the region, but the quality of healthcare in this Medical College has not seen much improvement over the decades. While the State Government has often claimed that the development of this Medical College is an over-riding priority but the quality of medical care and infrastructure is now forcing patients of the region to prefer medical facilities outside the state and in cities like Visakhapatnam, Hyderabad and Chennai. Infact, the MKCG, Medical College has come under the scrutiny of the Medical Council of India (MCI) several times in recent years for its shortage of staff, lack of modern equipments and infrastructure. The state government on its part has only provided assurances without any follow-up action on the ground.

We urge you through this letter to reverse this deplorable state of affairs afflicting this premier Medical Institution of the State through tangible steps to convert it into a ‘Centre of Excellence’ for medical education and for providing quality medical care to the people of the State and the most backward southern region in particular.

In this respect, inclusion of the MKCG Medical College, Berhampur as one of the Medical Colleges for upgradation to AIIMS-like as proposed under the 12th Five Year Plan under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojna (PMSSY) would go a long way in improving the deficient infrastructure of this Institution.

While multiple Medical Institutions from other states have been elevated under the Scheme so far, the Central government has completely neglected the state of Odisha. Considering that none of the 26 approved upgrades since the launch of the PMSSY are from Odisha, the State government should push for the upgradation of the MKCG government medical college, Berhampur to AIIMS-level during the 12th Plan given the critical role of this Medical College in improving access to affordable healthcare in south Odisha.

Sir, as a matter of fact, you had very effectively raised the issue of upgradation of MKCG Medical College to AIIMS level Institution besides raising the number of seats for admission to MBBS Course from 150 to 250 in your recent meeting with the Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad in New Delhi on 5th March 2012. However, the issues pertaining to the up-gradation of MKCG Medical College are yet to be addressed by the Union government and we do hope that your government will continue pursuing this matter with the Central government.

Today when the MKCG Medical College is preparing to celebrate its Golden Jubilee year of establishment, it should become a moment for reflecting on the state of healthcare and medical education in Odisha. The Golden Jubilee Celebration of this Institution is the time for espousing the collective resolve of the State to ensure massive up-gradation of healthcare infrastructure in one of the poorest and backward regions of the country. The high-incidence of poverty and backwardness coupled with high rates of infant and maternal mortality, high degree of malnutrition and high prevalence of communicable diseases presently witnessed in South Odisha doesn’t bode well for a state like Odisha aspiring to secure its development destiny. We urge you to accord the priority that the MKCG Medical College, Berhampur deserves and ensure its upgradation to AIIMS-level in its Golden Jubilee Year. 

Warm Regards,

Ram Prasad Tripathy

President, SOSA

Upgradation of MKCG Medical College demanded

South Odisha Students’ Association (SOSA) has demanded up-gradation of MKCG Medical College and Hospital in the city to AIIMS-like institution under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY). Members of SOSA have written to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik requesting him to initiate measures for the purpose. It may be noted that MKCG Medical College and Hospital that was established in 1962 would celebrate its golden jubilee on December 1. It happens to be the only medical college and referral hospital in south Odisha. But at present lack of infrastructure in this institution was compelling patients to reach out private medical institutions outside the State, SOSA activists alleged.

Several times in the past the Medical Council of India has pointed out shortage of staff, lack of modern equipment and infrastructure in MKCG Medical College and Hospital. But till now nothing much had happened regarding the suggestions of the MCI part from promises. SOSA demanded the State government initiate measures so that the medical college could be transformed into a centre of excellence for medical education providing quality medical care to the people of underdeveloped southern parts of Odisha. According to president of SOSA R.P. Tripathy, the MKCG Medical College and Hospital could be upgraded to an AIIMS-like institution. Source: The Hindu

Link:  http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-otherstates/upgradation-of-mkcg-medical-college-demanded/article4145498.ece

Students Body urges Centre to upgrade MKCG to AIIMS-like Institution under PMSSY

Report by Manorama Dhir, Berhampur: South Odisha Students' Association (SOSA) demand for upgradation of MKCG Medical College (Berhampur) to AIIMS-like Institution under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY).

SOSA said that Maharaja Krishna Chandra Gajapati (MKCG) Medical College & Hospital in Berhampur, Odisha is completing the 50th year of its establishment this week. Established in 1962 and named after the architect of Modern Odisha, Maharaja Shri Krishna Chandra Gajapati, the medical college is the only referral hospital for the backward districts of KBK, Boudh, Kandhamal and Gajapati of south Odisha…………………………………. Link:    
http://orissadiary.com/CurrentNews.asp?id=37952

 Odisha: Students Body urges Centre to upgrade MKCG to AIIMS-like Institution under PMSSY

Berhampur: South Odisha Students' Association (SOSA) demand for upgradation of MKCG Medical College (Berhampur) to AIIMS-like Institution under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY).

SOSA said that Maharaja Krishna Chandra Gajapati (MKCG) Medical College & Hospital in Berhampur, Odisha is completing the 50th year of its establishment this week. Established in 1962 and named after the architect of Modern Odisha, Maharaja Shri Krishna Chandra Gajapati, the medical college is the only referral hospital for the backward districts of KBK, Boudh, Kandhamal and Gajapati of south Odisha……………………Link:   http://indiaeducationdiary.in/Shownews.asp?newsid=17348

City bus service set to roll in Silk City Berhampur

BERHAMPUR: The Berhampur Development Authority (BDA) has planned two new bus services, one within Berhampur town, another connecting Berhampur, Gopalpur and Chhatrapur comprising the Greater-Berhampur region.
 The services will be launched through public private partnership (PPP), at an estimated cost of 3.5 crore. At least 27 buses will ply in the first phase.

A Mumbai-based consulting agency presented a detailed project report in this regard recently. The agency has suggested the formation of a special purpose vehicle (SPV) with involving the BDA, Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Notified Area Councils (NAC) of Gopalpur and Chhatrapur to monitor the services.
At present, passengers depend on trekkers and matadors for travelling to these two places from Berhampur. "Not only is time a big factor, but travel in trekkers and matadors is also a risky affair. These are always overcrowded. Moreover, there are no town bus services within Berhampur. So, we have also suggested a bus service for the town," a BDA official said. The Berhampur city had introduced a town bus service in 1991. The service was later discontinued as it incurred heavy loss.

Source: Times of India, The Sambad

Berhampur to free National Highway 217 of hoardings

BERHAMPUR: The National Highway 217 passing through Berhampur may soon be free of hoardings. The district administration has ordered officials concerned to remove the hoardings from either side of the 12-km stretch of NH passing through the town. "We have asked the officers of the NH, police, revenue and Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BMC) to pull out the hoardings from either sides of the NH 217 for the free movement of the vehicles," said Ganjam collector Krishan Kumar. The big hoardings, which illegally mushroomed along the footpaths, have been causing a lot of traffic problems in the town with residents urging the district administration to solve the problem for quite some time. The issue was discussed at a meeting on the development of Berhampur town held here on Thursday evening. The meeting, presided over by the district collector, was attended by officials of Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Berhampur Development Authority (BDA), besides MLAs from Berhampur and Gopalpur. The district collector also asked BDA officials to conduct a survey to identify open spaces in town and to rid them of encroachment. Some of the open spaces can be utilized for parking vehicles and some of them would be developed as green-belt with plantation and parks, the collector said. Around 150 open plots in the town, reserved by the BDA in different places, have vanished due to the encroachments, he pointed out. The administration also asked the BDA to crack down on buildings which diverted their open or parking spaces for other purposes. The violators would be punished, the collector warned.

Source: Times of India

City buses to hit Berhampur roads

Source: The Sambad