AP seeks 450 more MBBS seats from Centre

Hyderabad, Feb 11 (INN): Andhra Pradesh Health Minister Dr. Kamineni Srinivas met Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare JP Nadda at his office in New Delhi and Wednesday and apprised various pending issues of Andhra Pradesh and sought speedy readdressal.

Speaking to media persons at Nirman Bhavan after the meeting, Dr Srinivas that the Union Minister was positive on the issues placed before and assured to pursue them.

He said he had apprised the issues pertaining to Health, Medical and Family Welfare of Government of Andhra Pradesh. The AP Government has furnished proposals to the Centre for sanction of Grant-in-Aid of Rs 378 crores under the scheme to meet the cost of infrastructural development and equipments as the Central share.

Dr Srinivas informed that he requested for the enhancement of capacity by 50 MBBS seats for each of the nine Government Medical Colleges of Andhra Pradesh.

He also drew the attention of the Union Minister regarding establishment of AIIMS project in Andhra Pradesh for which the Central Team has already visited the earmarked place for establishing the AIIMS and the team expressed its immense satisfaction over the facilities available at the proposed site.

He informed that the Union Minister has assured to keep this issue in the next Cabinet Meeting and will attend for its Laying Foundation Stone programme in the month of March.

The minister said that the Government of India has identified Government Medical Colleges of Anantapur, Sidhardha Medical College, Vijayawada for up gradation under PMSSY ' III.

In addition to these two, another five Government Medical Colleges i.e., Andhra Medical College, Visakhapatnam, Rangaraya Medical College, Kakinada, Govt. Medical College, Guntur, Kurnool Medical College, Kurnool, Sri Venkateswara Medical College, Tirupathi for up gradation under PMSSY ' III, to balance the regional inequalities in the wake of AP State bifurcation.

He also mentioned that the State Government has submitted the Utilization Certificates / Statement of Expenditures for Centrally sponsored schemes for strengthening and up-gradation of Government Medical Colleges for increasing seats in PG courses for Andhra Medical College, Visakhapatnam, Rangaraya Medical College, Kakinada, Siddartha Medical College, Gijayawada, Guntur Medical College, Guntur, Sri Venkateswara Medical College, Tirupati, Kurnool Medical College, Kurnool and Govt. Medical College, Anantapur and requested to release the second installment at the earliest.

Dr Srinivas also requested Nadda to release the balance amount of Grant-in-Aid amount of Rs.100.06 crores under 13th Finance Commission Scheme during this financial year because the proposals and clarifications have been already submitted by the Government of Andhra Pradesh. He also requested the Union Minister to give thrust on approval of Programme Implementation Plan (PIP) proposals submitted for Rs 9,403 crores.

The minister thanked Nadda for obliging the proposals and issues placed before and expressed his gratitude to Union Minister for Urban Development M Venkaiah Naidu for taking the initiation in following up the pending issues.

Further, he conveyed his thanks to the Union Health Minister for releasing of Rs.345 crores from NABARD for strengthening of existing hospitals in Andhra Pradesh.

Replying to a query, Dr. Srinivas appealed the people of Andhra Pradesh not to get panic due to Swine flu as the State Government has taken all initiatives to control the virus.