The Hindu Business Line : Karnataka plans to open 5 Govt medical colleges

The State Medical Education Minister, Mr Iqbal Ansari, told presspersons here on Tuesday that two or three medical colleges would be opened in this academic year itself.

These colleges will come up in Bidar, Raichur, Belgaum, Mandya and Hassan districts. However, priority on their establishment will be given based on the needs of the particular area.

There are also demands from Shimoga region to open a medical college there, he said.

Asked if the Government will give permission for new private medical colleges in the State, he said that as of now there is no plan to give permission to private institutions. The Government will consider this, if there is a need for it.

However, the Cabinet would take a decision after holding thorough discussions on such matters. Mr Ansari said that the Government would come out with a policy on the appointment of physiotherapists at the taluk- and district-level hospitals.

He said the Government would follow the verdict of the Supreme Court and the guidelines of the Medical Council of India while admitting students to medical courses through common entrance test (CET). Stating that the Chief Minister, Mr Dharam Singh, has favoured a Central legislation on CET at the Education Ministers' Conference, he said the next Cabinet meeting would discuss on this aspect.

The Minister, who is on a visit of Government teaching hospitals in the State, said that he visited the Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences in Hubli, Bowring Hospital in Bangalore and Wenlock Hospital in Mangalore after assuming charge.

Serious action would be taken against doctors and staff concerned, if they were found guilty of dereliction of duty, he said.

Earlier addressing the second all-India conference of physiotherapy students, he said the role of physiotherapists is gaining prominence in today's world because of the increase in the number of road accidents.

Delivering the keynote address, Dr Ramgopal Shetty, Member of the Rehabilitation Council of India, said that physiotherapy students should be made to work in rural areas before joining postgraduate courses.

Dr Shetty also stressed the need for the inclusion of disaster management syllabus in physiotherapy courses.

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