The move to upgrade the Asramam ESI Model and Super Speciality Hospital in Kerala into a medical college has gained momentum once again. Health Minister K. Muraleedharan has assured that the State government will prioritize issuing the Essentiality Certificate required for the project. MP N. K. Premachandran welcomed the assurance after submitting a memorandum to the Minister. He alleged that the State government had earlier delayed the ₹600-crore Centrally funded project by withholding the certificate.
According to him, the ESI Corporation aims to launch the medical college in the 2026–27 academic year. However, the previous State administration cited serious infrastructural shortcomings at the hospital. An inspection by the Director of Medical Education reportedly found a lack of classrooms, administrative facilities, essential amenities, and teaching as well as non-teaching staff. Officials argued that granting approval without proper infrastructure could lead to the National Medical Commission cancelling the college’s accreditation in the future.
