MEDICAL EDUCATION IN TEARS

EVERY year at the time of new admissions in medical and engineering colleges one can find all sorts of muddle and confusion all over. These are being watched people of Kerala for quite sometime irrespective of the governments in power. Every time it is a bargain for money. The rich business men who run the colleges want huge profits. Parents of the brilliant poor students cannot afford this money. The rich parents of the 'no so brilliant students' are willing to pay this money. Representatives of the 'medical business' colleges of the neighbouring states deploy agents on commission basis throughout the state to canvas prospective students. Politicians of all brands grazing in the green pastures. The governments, one after the other, watching the whole show silently.

Every year we hear big political speeches in this matter. News papers spend scores of columns to report the case and to suggest ways and means to overcome the issue. TV channels conduct special debates involving people from various walks of life. Unfortunately, everything get subsided in a few weeks and the matter surfaces in the coming season with more fury. This year the apex court of the country was made to involve in the matter. The confusion, however, continues and also the tears.

Significantly, at this hour of confusion and melancholy a ray of hope has come from the words of Dr Azad Moopen, the renowned physician, entrepreneur and health care facilitator. Dr Moopen says that he is arranging medical education for 50 students with a total fees of five lakhs rupees in their college at Wayanad. Quite encouraging words indeed.

At the same time one gets a doubt that what Dr Moopen does, can it not be done by the state government. I would like to suggest to the state government that they should take similar steps immediately. The state may pool resources from local investors and NRI investors and establish about five medical colleges in different districts under PPP norms. The fee structure should be cost plus a nominal profit basis. The expenses of the colleges should be met with other resources like specialised services for patients from other countries. Kerala should be made a medical hub of Asia. It would be a viable proposal. I request the government to find an end to the annual dilemma.

KV George
kvgeorgein@gmail.com