The MKCG Medical College Hospital here has received green signal from the Medical Council of India (MCI) for opening of a Multidisciplinary Research Unit (MDRU), which was a longstanding demand of the medical fraternity and healthcare scientists of the region.
“After the MDRU is established, multidisciplinary research can be carried out which will augment quality education and healthcare services in the region,” said Prof Arun Kumar Dandapat, Principal of the MKCJ Medical College.
It may be noted that a MCI team had visited the medical college for the purpose last year. The team had then aired views that the college satisfies MCI guidelines, including infrastructural, to have a MDRU.
Sources said the MCI has nodded to establish 80 Multidisciplinary Units (MRUs) in various State Government-run medical colleges in the country during 12th Five Year Plan Period at a total cost of Rs503.85 crore.
Regularly, thousands of patients from different parts of south Odisha and neighboring Andhra Pradesh come to this hospital every day for treatment. Currently, there are five super-specialists departments functioning in this college, besides the Trauma Care Center recently became operational. For pathological and other testing of different samples of the patients, the college is already having a Regional Diagnostic Center (RDC), Pathology Department, and Microbiology Department which are fully operational. However, the college authorities have sent a proposal to the Government seeking financial assistance to procure certain modern testing scientific equipments to enable the college to conduct most complicated and advanced tests.
Sources said for establishment of a MDRU, the medical college would require a separate building, a hi-tech laboratory with all modern scientific equipments for which an amount of Rs6 crore has been estimated. The MCI has sanctioned Rs1.25 crore for this year. The college will soon start this MDR Unit in the Microbiology Department to facilitate the doctors to carry out their research in their respective fields, sources said.
As per the funding norms, the MCI would give Rs5.25 crore per MDRU which includes cost of equipment (Rs5 crore) and civil works and renovation (Rs25 lakh). In addition, the MCI would give Rs34 lakh towards salaries of staffs to be appointed on contractual basis and consumables every year while the State Government will provide minimum of 300 square metre free of cost.
According to information, the MCI has so far approved 62 MDRUs and released funds for 42 MDRUs, including one at MKCG Medical College.