Keralam Health department to expand nursing education infrastructure

Health Minister K. Muraleedharan inaugurating MRI scanning unit and ROTEM machine at Government Medical College, Kollam, on Wednesday.

In a bid to prevent students from leaving the State for nursing education, government has decided to establish new nursing colleges and increase seating capacities in existing institutions, Health Minister K. Muraleedharan said here on Wednesday. Inaugurating the newly installed MRI scanning unit and ROTEM machine at Government Medical College, Kollam, the Minister added that new hostels will be set up for nursing colleges currently lacking accommodation, with execution work scheduled to commence within three months.

“To alleviate the workload of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and lab technicians in government medical colleges, additional posts will be created in a phased manner. The state’s financial constraints would not hinder the health sector,” he said. Highlighting the expertise within State-run institutions, he observed that the swift containment of the Nipah virus within two months of the new government taking office was a testament to the dedication of government healthcare professionals. “With bipartisan support from elected representatives and a collaborative workforce, Kollam Medical College will soon emerge as the top medical college in Keralam,” he said adding that the long-defective air conditioning system at the facility will be restored within three days.

The commissioning of the MRI scanning unit and ROTEM machine marks a significant step in transforming the hospital into a modern center of excellence. The state-of-the-art MRI facility was installed at a cost of ₹15 crore, while the ROTEM equipment—procured for ₹15 lakh for the hospital’s blood bank—is only the second of its kind in the state’s government sector, with the first operating at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College. The Minister formally launched both advanced machines at the medical college auditorium and conducted the official switch-on ceremony at the diagnostic block.