Dharamshala: An Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) Medical College and Hospital will be commencing its academic session in Himachal Pradesh in 2012. Education Minister Mr. I D Dhiman said that ESIC medical college in Mandi town is expected to start functioning from the academic session of 2012-13. He said this in the state assembly.
The foundation stone of the medical college and hospital was laid on February 23, 2009. The then Union Labor and Employment Minister Mr. Oscar Fernandes laid the foundation stone. He announced that the 500-bed medical hospital-cum-college would be completed by 2010-2011 with an outlay of Rs.10 billion. He added that there would be 100 seats each in the medical college and the nursing school.
In addition, Mr. Fernandes informed that 40 percent of the total seats in these courses would be reserved for students from the state. As per sources, the ESIC would sign a bond with medical students to make it mandatory for them to work in its hospitals for at least five years. Further, sources informed that the hospital would provide medical services not only to those who are covered under the ESIC social security scheme, but also to others.
