Kosal Discussion and Development Forum

Memorandum for the Up-gradation of VSS Medical College and Hospital, Burla to an AIIMS Level Institution

May 12, 2012 at 8:06 am sanjibkarmee Leave a comment

To,

Dr. Manmohan Singh, honorable Prime Minister of India

cc:

Smt. Partibha Patil, honorable President of India

Smt. Sonia Gandhi, honorable UPA chairperson

Smt. Sushma Swaraj, honorable leader of the opposition

Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad, honorable Minister of Health and Family Welfare, India

Shri. Naveen Patnaik, honorable Chief Minister of Odisha

Shri Prasanna Acharya, honorable Minister of Health, Odisha

Honorable Members of Parliament from Odisha

Honorable Secretary of Health and Family Welfare

Honorable Director of PMSSY

Honorable Media personnel

Dear honorable Prime Minister Dr. Singh,

To revamp the healthcare system in India, the central government is upgrading the existing state government medical colleges to AIIMS level institutions under PMSSY. This is a positive step.

Established in 1959, the VSS medical college and hospital, Burla offers undergraduate and postgraduate education in medicine, surgery, pharmacy and nursing.[1] People of western Odisha (viz. Sambalpur, Balangir, Bargarh, Boudh, Subarnapur, Deogarh, Kalahandi, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Nuapada districts and Athamallik subdivision) along with several districts of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand states are heavily dependent on VSS medical college and hospital at Burla for tertiary health care. [1] However, the available medical facilities and existing infrastructure in this state government medical college is inadequate to handle the needs of this populous.

The health facility in western Odisha is one of the worst in the nation. Not only there is a serious shortage of health professionals but also the infrastructures in hospitals of this region are insufficient and under equipped. Hundreds of lives are lost every year in Kalahandi-Balangir-Koraput (KBK) and western Odisha from common disease like diarrhea and poor health facilities. The dignitaries of both ruling party and opposition parties (including Shri Rahul Gandhi and Shri LK Advani) are well aware of this as they have visited KBK and western Odisha several times in the recent past. Despite their promises there is no improvement in the existing health care facilities in western Odisha.

It is reported that Bihar has succeeded to get two of its medical colleges selected to be upgraded in addition to the new AIIMS in Patna. Furthermore, there are reports that various state goverment medical colleges in the country will be upgraded to AIIMS level. [2] Along this line, earlier we have requested both the Odisha and central government to upgrade the VSS medical college, Burla to an AIIMS level institution.

Keeping this in mind, during a recent visit the health minister of Odisha Shri Prasanna Acharya has requested Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad, to upgrade the VSS medical college, Burla to AIIMs level. We strongly support the demand of Shri Acharya and the Odisha govt. Upgradation of VSS medical college and hospital, Burla to an AIIMS level institituion under PMSSY will create better medical facilities for the people of western Odisha, Chatisgarh and Jharkhand. Furthermore, it will boost the higher education in this most backward region of India.

Therefore, we request you to kindly initiate necessary process for the up-gradation of VSS medical college and hospital, Burla to an AIIMS level institution under PMSSY.

Thank you and best regards,

 Members of the Kosal Discussion and Development Forum and people of western Odisha

 References:

1. VSS Medical College: http://www.vssmedical.net/

2. Medical colleges to be upgraded: http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_medical-colleges-to-be-upgraded_1037208

3. Odisha health minister demands up-gradation of existing medical colleges to AIIMS level: http://wp.me/pFC4h-1be

Click here to download the complete memorandum.

Entry filed under: Health Care Facility, Region watch, Sambalpur, VSS Medical College.