Kerala’s first ESI medical college to begin functioning in Kollam: Details

Kerala’s first ESI (Employees' State Insurance) Medical College will be launched soon in Ashramam, Kollam, elevating the city’s status to a major medical hub. Although the ESI hospital at Parippally was elevated to a medical college earlier, it was handed over to the state government upon completion of the buildings. Meanwhile, the authorities are planning to start the medical college utilising the ESI sub-regional office and subsequent facilities in Ashramam. Besides the sub-regional office, the Ashramam ESI hospital and the employees’ quarters also function here. The sub-regional office, with around 80 staff, will now serve as the administrative block of the medical college. Currently, the Ashramam super speciality hospital has 220 beds, which is sufficient to start a medical college. 

The ESI quarters are behind the Ashramam AYK auditorium. Dr Soumya Sampath of the Chennai KK Nagar ESI hospital, who has been appointed as the mentor dean and hospital superintendent, and Dr KI Premlal have been overseeing the hospital's functioning. Dr Saumya had reached Kollam the other day and visited the sub-regional office to evaluate its functioning. 

Students could be admitted to MBBS courses this year itself if the hospital receives approval from the National Medical Commission. Meanwhile, the ESI board has approved 10 medical colleges with more than 220 beds, including the Ashramam super speciality hospital. The ESI corporation then issued the order to open 50 MBBS seats for admission after acquiring approval from the Ministry of Labour and Employment. 

Besides Kollam, ESI medical colleges will be opened in Pune, Nagpur, Manesar in Haryana, Surat in Gujarat, Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, Bhubaneshwar West in Odisha, Asansol in West Bengal, Pandya Nagar in Uttar Pradesh, and Madgaon in Goa. 

Crossing barriers
The application seeking the National Medical Commission’s approval must be submitted by January 28. Before that, the hospital should secure two additional state-level approvals, such as the Essentiality Certificate from the health department and approval from the Kerala University of Health Sciences. 

What are ESI hospitals
The hospitals are mainly for those covered by the Employees' State Insurance Corporation, a government body under the Ministry of Labour and Employment. The treatment here is generally very low-cost or free for those with an ESI card or number. Non-insured patients can also avail treatment from these hospitals.