Medical and Nursing Colleges Now in All Districts of Kerala: Minister Veena George

Thiruvananthapuram: Health Minister Veena George has said that all districts in Kerala now have both medical and nursing colleges. This follows the recent approval of medical colleges in Wayanad and Kasaragod by the National Medical Commission.

Including colleges in Pathanamthitta and Idukki, a total of four government medical colleges have received approval during the current Left Democratic Front (LDF) government's term. These new institutions will add 300 MBBS seats under the government quota.

The Minister said that efforts are underway to start admissions at Wayanad and Kasaragod colleges in the current academic year itself, once required procedures are completed.

In nursing education, 21 new colleges were started during this period—eight in the government sector and 13 in the private sector. Government nursing colleges were set up in districts like Kasaragod, Wayanad, Idukki, Palakkad, Malappuram, Pathanamthitta, Kollam, and Thiruvananthapuram annex.

The number of B.Sc. Nursing seats in government colleges increased from 478 to 1,060. Altogether, including private colleges, Kerala now has over 10,300 B.Sc. Nursing seats. The state also received approval for 80 new postgraduate medical seats. Fellowship programs were introduced in the government sector as well.

The Minister said these developments aim to make medical and nursing education more accessible within the state, especially through government institutions.