Balasore: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday dedicated the much-awaited Fakir Mohan Medical College and Hospital here to people of Odisha in the presence of Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Ashwini Choubey.
The Chief Minister inaugurated the medical college after unveiling the statue of great Odia poet Fakir Mohan Senapati at the entrance to the healthcare institution.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said, “With the opening up of this institution, a long-cherished dream of the residents of Balasore district and that of the people of the state has come true.”
Stressing his government’s objective of ‘Sustha Odisha Sukhi Odisha’, Naveen said that several reforms and initiatives have been undertaken to ensure quality healthcare to all the citizens in government health institutions of the state.
“With the opening up of Fakir Mohan Medical College and Hospital, the seventh government medical college in the state, the total number of medical seats in Odisha has gone up to 1050 from a modest 321 in the year 2000.”
In his address, Odisha health minister Pratap Jena said, “As a part of its commitment to provide quality healthcare services to the people of the state, the state government has decided to make diagnosis, CT Scan, MRI and medicines under Niramaya Yojana free for the patients at the hospital. This apart, it has also been planned to set up a teaching hospital inside the campus.”
The state government has spent Rs 130 crore against the central sanction of Rs 65 crore for establishment of the medical college here, the minister added.
Addressing the gathering, Union Minister of State for Health Ashwini Kumar Choubey said, “The Centre has decided to open one medical college in every three Lok Sabha constituencies across the country, including Odisha.”
Higher education minister Ananta Das and Balasore MP Rabindra Kumar Jena were also present on the occasion.
The admission to 100 MBBS seats in the medical college for 2018-19 academic session has already begun.
The state government had on August 28 renamed the medical college and hospital in Balasore after eminent litterateur Fakir Mohan Senapati.
On the other hand, BJP Legislature Party leader KV Singhdeo accused the state government of ignoring the Union Minister in the advertisement published in print and electronic media. He further alleged that the government violated the protocol as no senior official welcomed Choubey and no security was provided to him though he enjoys that of Y category.
