By IANS,
Mandi (Himachal Pradesh) : Union Labour and Employment Minister Oscar Fernandes Monday laid the foundation stone of the proposed Rs.10 billion Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) Medical College and Hospital here.
“The 500-bed ESIC Medical College and Hospital will be completed by 2010-2011,” Fernandes said.
The central government has plans to set up 10 more such hospitals across the country.
“With the laying of the stone in the hill state, we (the central government) have started the process of establishing medical hospitals-cum-colleges in the country. These hospitals would provide medical services not only to those who are covered under the social security scheme but also to the common man,” he said.
Talking on the sidelines of the function, Fernandes told IANS that the medical college here would start admission process in 2010-2011.
“There are 100 seats each at the graduate level in medical and nursing school. Later, post-graduate courses would be started besides other specialised disciplines,” he said.
He said 40 percent seats in these courses are reserved for the state students, 40 percent for all-India merit candidates, 10 percent for ESIC beneficiaries, 5 percent for the industry owners and 5 percent for students of the ESIC employees.
He said the ESIC would sign a bond with the pass-outs to make it mandatory for them to work in ESIC-run hospitals for at least five years.
State Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, who was also present at the function, said that 31 acres has been provided to the ESIC by the state for establishing the hospital-cum-medical college.
“It’s a proud moment for us that the central government has decided to open its first medical college in the state,” he said.