IIT-Kharagpur may get first batch of MBBS students by 2020

The Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, is expected to induct its first batch of MBBS students by 2020-21.

The first phase of construction of Dr B C Roy Institute of Medical Science & Research will get over by June this year and we are working towards making the hospital operational from 2018,” IIT-Kharagpur deputy director Prof Sriman Kumar Bhattacharyya said on Wednesday.

“Then, as per regulation, we can start offering MBBS programme in another three-year time in 2020-21,” said Bhattacharyya, in-charge of setting up the Medical College.

In the first phase of construction, the hospital and ancillary building were getting ready, while in the second phase, residential towers for doctors, students and support staff will be undertaken, he said.

The Dr B C Roy Institute of Medical Science & Research is coming up in Balarampur area adjoining IIT-KGP campus on an 18-acre land.

The centre has sanctioned  Rs 150 crore to IIT Kharagpur for the hospital.

As per plan, the hospital would later have 750 beds, he said adding that the project would cost around Rs 230 crore and there were plans to raise the rest of the funds through donations.

Currently the institute is busy procuring equipment for cardiology, neurology, orthopaedics, diagnostics, pathology and Out-Patients Department.

The IIT will not directly run the hospital but will, instead, create a registered society. It will sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the society to run the hospital on a no-profit, no-loss mode.