Sushma boost for state health stride

KOLKATA: Union health minister Sushma Swaraj on Saturday agreed in principle to upgrade Calcutta Medical College and Hospital to the status of All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Delhi.
Though the final decision will be taken after an expert team from the ministry visits the CMC and submits its report, Swaraj’s approval paves the way for fulfilling one of the state’s most cherished dreams.It is to restore the lost glory to CMC – the oldest medical college in Asia.
In a luncheon meeting with CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and state health minister Surjya Kanta Misra, Swaraj agreed to send the expert team at the earliest. “Though we would like all health facilities in the state to be improved, upgrading one to the AIIMS level will be beneficial for the people of the eastern region.�
Both Misra and state health secretary Asim Barman later confirmed that CMC was being considered for the proposal. The CM said the upgraded medical college would be a centre of excellence with emphasis on neurology, haematology and ophthalmology.
Union health secretary JVR Prasad, when contacted, said any budgetary decision could only be taken after the committee studied the infrastructure and submitted its report.
Swaraj has also agreed to look into the request for setting up a unit of the National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases in north Bengal apart from allowing 100 undergraduate seats each at SSKM and Midnapore medical colleges. “A team from the Medical Council of India will visit the state in August and decide on the issue,� she said.
The state is trying to get the MCI team to visit before August 17 to complete the formalities prior to the entrance examination for the 200 seats.
Swaraj assured the CM of all help to honour commitments by her predecessor Shatrughan Sinha towards improvement of equipment at the BC Roy Memorial Children’s Hospital.
She said that her ministry would also try to expedite the multi-crore World Bank project on upgradation of primary health centres.