Port Blair, Oct. 25: The dream of the people of the A&N Islands for a Medical College in the Islands will soon become a reality as the Medical Council of India, New Delhi has given its approval for establishment of a Medical College on PPP model. The matter was persistently followed up by the Lt Governor, Lt Gen (Retd) Bhopinder Singh, PVSM, AVSM with the Central Govt. including the Union Health Minister. The Central Govt. after consulting the Medical Council of India had earlier issued a notification in September 2011, allowing the Andaman and Nicobar Administration to use the existing government hospital as part of the medical college. 

It may be recalled that the A&N Administration as per the recommendation of an Expert Committee and also as suggested in the Detailed Project Report, has decided to establish the Medical College on Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode in Doodhline abutting the scenic Corbyns’ Cove beach. It has been decided to utilize the G B Pant Hospital as teaching hospital. The Administration approached the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare/Medical Council of India with two issues, which needed to be resolved. The two important issues were permission to set up Medical College 4 kms apart from the existing hospital (GB Pant Hospital) and permission to set up Medical College in partnership with a ‘not for profit’ private party. 

With MCI giving the final approval, the Administration is now taking up the matter on war footing to establish the Medical College at the earliest for the benefit of the local youth who aspire to pursue medical education without having to go to mainland.