A day after the signing of MOU at Shimla between the Himachal Pradesh government and ESI, the Health Minister, Thakur Kaul Singh visited the sprawling complex of Medical College at Ner Chowk Mandi and inspected the entire complex for three hours.
Addressing a news conference in the college premises he declared that frantic efforts would be made to start the first batch of 100 MBBS students from the next session in August 2017.
He said an application along with the prescribed fees of Rs. 3.5 lakh had been sent to the Medical Council of India for the permission of starting the college. He claimed that it would be the best medical college in the northern India located on the lap of the grand Himalayas. All buildings would be totally air-conditioned. The annual expenditure of the college will be over Rs 20 crore and it had been envisaged to run it on self-financing basis. Seats would be reserved for the NRIs.
The entire complex has been built at a cost of Rs 924.82 crore finally transferred to the Himachal Pradesh government on 99-year lease. The State Government had provided free land for the college. As per terms and conditions the State Government will refund a sum of Rs 285.23 crore in five annual instalments beginning after two years from the start of the college.
The Health Minister said 100 MBBS students would be admitted in the first session and the number will swell in the coming years. The college comprises four blocks, a big library, five-storey administrative blocks, a nursing college and seven museums. It will have 500-bed facility in addition to a modern 40-bed casualty ward with a network of 12 modular operation theatres equipped with laser system besides a big operation theatre.
The Health Minister said 371 residential units have also been provided for faculty and the staff. Two hostels for boys and girls with capacity of 300 and 200 respectively have also been provided. Adequate accommodation for resident doctors, intern, staff and nursing students has also been provided. An inn for the attendants of patients has also been built. Facilities of shopping complex, gym and indoor games are also there, he added.
