Puducherry government to take over private medical colleges for COVID-19 treatment

Four private medical colleges will be taken over; nodal officers appointed by the Health Department will coordinate admission and discharge process

With medical facilities at Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Research Institute (IGGMC & RI) and Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) coming to a saturation point for treatment of virus infected patients, the territorial administration has decided to takeover private medical colleges for COVID-19 management in the Union Territory. By an order of the Lt Governor, the Health Department would shortly have under its control four private medical colleges -- Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences, Aarupadai Veedu Medical College, Sri Lakshminarayana Institute of Medical Sciences and Sri Venkateswara Medical College Hospital and Research Centre-for admission and discharge of COVID-19 patients, a senior official told The Hindu.