10,000 more MBBS seats, infra boost to colleges: PM

Inaugurating the newly constructed building of ESIC Medical College and Hospital here, he said, the Centre’s plans to expand ESIC facilities, indeed the establishment of this medical college itself, was part of a larger plan to upgrade the facilities for medical education and specialised tertiary care. 

Pointing out that the Centre has approved a scheme for upgrading existing State and Central Government medical colleges to increase the seats, Mr Modi said ‘’through this, we hope to increase 10,000 seats and provide funds for equipment and infrastructure. So far 23 medical colleges have been approved to increase over 1,700 MBBS seats. I am happy to inform that four state government medical colleges in Tamil Nadu at Coimbatore, Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli and Madurai have been approved for upgradation by adding 345 more MBBS seats.” 

Modi said with similar objective, the Centre was also promoting the establishment of AIIMS like institutions across the country. 

“One such institution has also been approved for Tamil Nadu and with the active support of the State Government, I hope this institution will start admissions quickly,” he added. 

Stating that the Rs 580 crore project would help ESIC beneficiaries and their families in and around Coimbatore, Modi said 20 of the proposed 100 MBBS seats would be reserved for children of beneficiaries insured under ESI. Claiming it to be an example of cooperative federalism, he said a proposal was afoot to expand coverage and ensure additional facilities through the ESIC scheme. 

He said ESI now served 830 centres in 34 states and UTs covering seven lakh factories benefitting two crore workers and another eight crore beneficiaries. Tamil Nadu’s share was 85,000 participating employers and 28 lakh insured with Coimbatore boasting of 27,000 employers. 

Stating that ESI would have eight hospitals in Tamil Nadu after the new one was handed over, he said the Tirunelveli ESIC hospital would be upgraded from 50 to 100 beds.