UDF walk out in the Assembly over new medical colleges

Thiruvananthapuram: Members of the United Democratic Front staged a walk out in the Assembly on Thursday over the Government failing to support new medical colleges set up by the previous Government.

The walk-out followed Speaker P. Sreeramakrishnan refusing permission to move an adjournment motion, given notice of by former Health Minister V. S. Sivakumar, on the basis of explanation given by Health Minister K. K. Shylaja.

The Minister said that the previous Government had set up Government medial colleges without providing the facilities needed by them.  However, the Government would not close down the medical colleges set up by the previous Government. But, it could not carry on by merely giving undertakings to the Medical Council of India for recognition.

Ms. Shylaja said that the Government would set up facilities for the new medical colleges after setting priorities. The most important thing was to upgrade five Government medical colleges as centres of excellence and also to ensure health care facilities to the poor.

He said that the Medical Council of India had stopped admission to Idukki Medical College because the previous Government had not kept the undertaking given to Medical Council. The Medical Colleges in Kasaragod and Konni also lacked facilities. The same was the situation regarding the new medical college in Thiruvananthapuram.

Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala and Mr. Sivakumar alleged that the Government was neglecting the new medical college to help the private medical colleges outside the State.

Mr. Chennnithala said that the Government was trying to mask the achievements of previous Government in the medical education sector. The stand that new medical colleges could be started only after setting all facilities was wrong.

He noted that the though several medical colleges including private medical colleges had lost recognition for admission of students this year, the Government had not come forward to held talks with the Medical Council.

Mr. Sivakumar said that Kerala would lose 1000 medical seats this year because of the neglect shown by the Government. The previous government had started new medical colleges with a view to turn the State into a medical education hub. Besides, Kerala still did not have the required number of doctors as per Indian public health standards.