The SJMCH is part of 5 medical colleges built under Phase I of the scheme for ‘Establishment of new medical colleges attached with existing district/referral hospitals’.
Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare and Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister of Orissa jointly dedicated the Shri Jagannath Medical College & Hospital (SJMCH) in Puri, Orissa to the nation recently.
Expressing his elation at the event, Dr Mandaviya said that the hospital will play a pivotal role in training doctors and providing good medical facilities to the people of Orissa. He interacted with the students who will be part of the inaugural batch of the hospital and motivated them to work hard and serve in the remotest corners of the country so that healthcare can reach to the last mile.
The Union Health Minister highlighted that the vision of New India as envisaged by the Prime Minister is to make healthcare accessible and affordable for all people. He further requested the Chief Minister to integrate Ayushman Bharat Yojana with the existing state health facilities to further improve the access to healthcare in India.
Patnaik congratulated the students and informed them that 15 per cent of seats in the hospital are reserved for students from government schools. He noted that “a long dream of establishing a medical college in Puri has been fulfilled”.
The SJMCH is part of 5 medical colleges built under Phase I of the scheme for ‘Establishment of new medical colleges attached with existing district/referral hospitals’. All the hospitals under the scheme have been built at an approved cost of 945 crore with 60 per cent of the contribution (567 crore) coming from the Union Government. With the inauguration of the SJMCH, all 5 Medical Colleges have become functional now.