Over 100 posts remain vacant at the Government Medical College in Orathur, Nagapattinam district, raising concerns about the institution’s ability to deliver quality medical education and healthcare services.
Established in 2021 and inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2022, the college was envisioned as a major healthcare hub for the region. However, it continues to grapple with staffing and infrastructure deficits.
Constructed at a cost of ₹254.8 crore under an overall initial allocation of ₹366.8 crore, the campus includes a 700-bed teaching hospital. It houses around 600 MBBS students, spanning from the first to the final year from various parts of the nation study here.
Of the 233 sanctioned posts, 113 are vacant, according to a senior official. Vacancies exist across nearly all key designations, including Dean, Professor, Vice-Principal, Medical Superintendent, Resident Medical Officer, Associate and Assistant Professors, as well as Senior and Junior Residents. Several specialist roles — such as Antenatal Medical Officer, Epidemiologist, Child Psychologist, Lady Medical Officer, Statistician-cum-Tutor, and Casualty Medical Officer — have unfilled positions.
Former Minister and Vedaranyam MLA O.S. Manian, speaking to The Hindu, said, “We established the medical college with the vision of providing high-quality healthcare to the poor and underserved rural population in Nagapattinam and neighbouring districts. Unfortunately, the present government has failed to equip the institution adequately, undermining that vision.”
