Government Medical College, Srinagar

The Government Medical College, Srinagar, (Urdu, گورنمنٹ میڈیکل کالج سرینگر) also known as GMC Srinagar is a Medical College located in Srinagar,Jammu and Kashmir. It was established in 1959 and was one of the very first medical colleges of Jammu and Kashmir and one of the oldest Medical college in North India.It was ranked among the top five Medical Colleges of India for many decades. It is the premier government medical institution concerned with imparting health and medical education. The associated hospitals of the college act as the tertiary health centers and are the main referral hospitals from all corners of Kashmir Valley.The college and hospital are approved and recognized by the Medical Council of India since the year of inception of college.^[1]

History

GMC was established in year 1959 with few room dispensary at banks of Jhelum near current Lalla Ded (LD) hospital .GMC has emerged as premier medical college of the country. Apart from nurturing Medical professional over after few decades.GMC is providing a healing touch to majority of population of state. It was in 1959 that Col. G V S Murthy took charge as the first Principal of GMC. Anatomy and physiology were the first departments started in the dispensary located near current Lalla Ded hospital. Two years later,college was shifted to the present day location at Karan Nagar. On 25 August 1961 GMC was formally inaugurated by then Prime Minister of the State of Jammu and Kashmir Mr. Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad.^[2]

In 1966 PG Courses in Pr-Clinical subjects where started it was in 1968 Post graduation course in clinical subjects got under way in GMC. With time Govt.Medical college started training of Para-Medical staff like Radio-Graphers, Lab-Technicians, Lab-Attendants, Pharmacist, Nurses and sanitary Inspectors. In1970`s and 1980`s are considered to be the golden period in the history of Govt. medical college. At this time GMC Srinagar had students not only from various stages of India but from foreign countries as well.

Degree

The medical college provides medical education at the under graduate level (MBBS courses) and post graduate level (MD/MS and diploma courses) in its various associated hospitals.

Besides these, diploma courses for B.Sc Nursing is taught.The faculty of the Govt. Medical College, teaches in 22 departments of the College and runs 07 hospitals in addition to Chittranjan Mobile Hospital, Lectures, Practicals, demonstrations and clinics are well planned and conducted round the year. Students in the clinical terms derive experience from the wards of the affiliated college.

Around 150 medical students graduate from the college each year.^[3] The college admits students purely on the basis of merit obtained in the Common Entrance Examination (JKCET) held by Board of Professional Entrance Examination held once every year in June.

Over 4000 doctors have graduated from GMC till now.Around a 1000 students have post-graduated from this prestigious institution. Doctors, Surgeons, and Medical Technologists produced by the GMC have earned world-wide recognition and renown not only for their excellence but also for their commitment and service.

Facilities

The college has a well stocked library with over 18000 books. It subscribes to more than 270 international and national journal and has over 14000 bound journals. The Library has SLIM software computerized information management system which allows immediate tracing and retrieval of any publication in library.

Associated Hospitals

Currently there are 07 associated hospital of Government Medical College, Srinagar

• SMHS (Sri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital) also Known as State Medical Hospital Srinagar
• G.B Pant, Children Hospital, Sonwar Srinagar
• Lal Ded Maternity Hospital,Hazuri Bag Srinagar
• Psychiatric Diseases Hospital, Srinagar
• Chest Diseases Hospital Dalgate, Srinagar
• Bone and Joint Hospital Barzulla,Srinagar
• Chitranjan Mobile Hospital.

These hospitals have the total bed strength of 2,150. On an average more than 100 patients stay in these hospital as in-patients including the floor patients. About 5-7 thous and people through the O.P departments daily for medical relief.The hospitals are adequately equipped with nine surgical theaters and delivery rooms. There are on the whole 22 departments functioning.The bed strength at SMHS hospital was 750 in 1959 and over the years it has been increased to the present strength of 1038. About 2000-3000 people from the O.P department daily found Medical relief.

The college hospitals are the main referral destinations from all primary and secondary health centers across Kashmir and receive thousand of patients in the out-patient and in-patient departments.

References