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Long wait ends, Tirupur GH may become med college soon

Tirupur: The government hospital in the city may include a medical college from next academic year. Following the approval of the Medical Council of India, the state government has appointed dean of Coimbatore ESI medical college hospital, T Ravikumar, as special officer to the project. Still the government has to get an approval from the Centre.



Tirupur GH is one of the six government hospitals to become medical colleges. The government was hoping to start the college with 150 MBBS seats from the next academic year, sources in the health department said.

There is a demand for establishing a medical college since Tirupur district was craved out a decade ago. The district has more than 25 lakh population with 10 lakh people living in the city. Despite this, the district does not have a tertiary hospital and patients had to be rushed to Coimbatore.

The 725-bedded Tirupur GH handles more than 650 patients in a day. But if a GH could handle 300 patients on daily basis, it is enough to upgrade it into a medical college. Moreover, minimum land required for establishing a medical college in an urban area is 10 acres but 27 acres are available with the Tirupur GH. After the approval, the GH would be transferred to the directorate of medical education from the present governing body, directorate of medical and rural health services.

“The hospital is equipped with a neonatal intensive care unit, comprehensive emergency obstetric and newborn care services, an early intervention programme, a deaddiction centre, a psychiatric ward, and provides daycare chemotherapy besides other basic facilities including trauma care,” said a senior doctor.

“But it does not have vital facilities like a head injury treatment centre. By starting a medical college, advanced facilities like a centre for accidents victims, pathology and neuroscience laboratories would be opened. At present, the GH would diagnose diseases and refer patients to the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital, if advanced treatment is needed,” another senior doctor said

“Especially, with an industrial base in the city, many people may face occupational hazards including respiratory diseases. Such cases can be treated effectively in the GH in future. Further, patients would be referred from nine other GHs, around 50 primary health centres in the district and also from neighbouring districts. This would reduce travelling time and improve the possibilty of saving lives,” he added.

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