KCR to inaugurate 9 medical colleges today

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao would virtually inaugurate new medical colleges in Kamareddy, Karimnagar, Khammam, Jayashankar Bhupalapally, Komaram Bheem Asifabad, Nirmal, Rajanna Sircilla, Vikarabad and Janagama districts on Friday, all funded by the state, which will all begin operations simultaneously.

Harish Rao said, "…as a consequence of the visionary and transformative governance of CM KCR, Telangana tops in producing both foodgrain and doctors. There were five medical colleges in 10 districts of Telangana before bifurcation. Under Dr Y. S. Rajashekar Reddy, Rayalaseema with four districts got its fourth medical college in Kadapa, besides its three existing ones in Tirupati, Chittoor and Anantapur. But they would not give one to Telangana. Today, we are set to establish nine more new medical colleges in our state."

Harish Rao said, "We used to produce 2,850 doctors each year. We started eight medical colleges last year in one go and today, we will add nine more medical colleges. We will do eight more next year. We will be converting 10,000 school students into doctors each year across both public and private institutions, which is a matter of great pride, being the highest in India."

Currently, Telangana stands out by offering 22 MBBS seats per lakh population and in terms of new seats being added for the academic year, the state’s share nationwide is 43 per cent, he said, adding that while only two government medical colleges were established in 60 years of rule by various parties. 

"During CM KCR’s regime, 21 government medical colleges were established. Before the formation of



Telangana, there were only 850 medical seats here, but now, it has increased to 3,690 seats across 26 medical colleges," he said.

Discussing the excruciating standards and qualification requirements for setting up a medical college, he said, "It is not easy to set up a medical college. The National Medical Council has to be satisfied about all parameters – the hospital, patients, quality of education, teaching staff and infrastructure."

Harish Rao said, "Previous governments did precious little. We had five medical colleges – one established by the Nizam before Independence, two established by private philanthropic bodies, which the government took over subsequently. The two medical colleges in Hyderabad, Osmania (set up in 1856) and Gandhi (1954), and Kakatiya Medical College in Warangal (1959), found little support or upgradation over the years. 

Today, Telangana tops, in the doctors-per-one-lakh citizens (chart). We are second in the number of post-graduation students per year, but will top even that by the end of next year."

On the public impact of medical colleges, Rao said, "Earlier, our students had to go either Andhra or abroad, to places like Russia, China and Philippines. Some would have to go to Karnataka or Maharashtra, but had to pay huge donations. 

Today, at Rs 10,000 per year for half the students, we are offering the lowest cost for producing a doctor. Look at the students’ profiles – common people and poor families are now able to send their children to become doctors in Telangana."