Plans to integrate CMC with health department

KOCHI: The state government will soon take measures to integrate the functioning of Cooperative Medical College (CMC), Kochi, with the Health Department. As the CMC is under the Cooperative Department, the Medical College has been missing funds allotted by the Central Government through the Health Department of the state for implementing various schemes allotted to government Medical Colleges. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy will preside over a high-level meeting to be held in this regard, authorities with the CMC said. The meeting to be held soon will take a decision on such issues. Health Minister Adoor Prakash, Minister for Cooperation C N Balakrishnan, Labour Minister Shibu Baby John, Public Works Minister V K Ebrahimkunju and Excise Minister K Babu will attend the meeting, said Dr Mohan P Sam, CMC medical director. Once the functioning of the CMC is integrated with the Health Department, the Medical College will get funds under the Central projects like the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM). “We hope that a decision can be taken in the  meeting regarding the doctors offering one-year service under bond system also. If so, services of experts in various specialities can be availed in the Medical College,” Mohan P Sam said.Though the Cooperation Minister in the last LDF ministry had made some attempts to secure  tertiary referral centre status for the CMC, the move yielded no result. A sanction from the Health Department would have elevated the Medical College to the status of a tertiary referral centre.The authorities are going ahead with the measures to construct a  commercial complex which will house a bank, an ATM, post office, a department store and a dormitory for the bystanders. “Administrative sanction for the project has been received. We have prepared the estimate as well,” Mohan P Sam said. There are also plans to construct a payward and staff quarters.