Government Medical College
Ulloor Road, Thiruvananthapuram
Kerala 695011
Phone: 0471 252 8300
Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram (also known as is Thiruvananthapuram Medical College) in Thiruvananthapuram city, the capital of Kerala state, India. It was founded in 1951 and was inaugurated by Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of India. This is the oldest and most prestigious medical college in Kerala. In official records, it was named simply Medical College (of Thiruvananthapuram) since it was the only medical institute in the state at its inception.
The Medical College campus houses several hospitals and institutions, other than the Medical College Hospital (MCH), including the College of Nursing, College of Pharmaceutical sciences, Regional Cancer Centre, Thiruvananthapuram Dental College, Sree Chitra Thirunal Institute of Medical Sciences and Technology, Priyadarshini Institute of Paramedical Sciences and Sree Avittom Thirunal Hospital for Women and Children (SAT Hospital). Regional Institute of Ophthalmology (RIO) is a part of medical college and is being upgraded to the status of national level independent institute. The School of Optometry is located inside RIO campus.
Initially the hospital started with departments of Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry and Bacteriology. These departments were headed by Dr. V. Mathew, Dr. C. Vareed, Dr. Narayana Rao and Dr. C. O. Karunakaran respectively. Department of Bacteriology consisted of Microbiology, Pathology and Hygiene initially. During the Asian flu epidemic, the department was in the forefront in isolating the influenza virus under Prof. R. Ananthanarayanan. In 1981, an AIDS surveillance center was established under the department. The Department of Community Medicine established in 1953 was the first of its kind in India. For field training, a Primary Health Centre was established in July 1953 at Cheruvikkal, which was shifted to Pangappara in 1964. Initially interns training were conducted at Indo Norwegian MCH unit at Neendakara. A Regional Cell for Prevention of Epidemic and Infectious Diseases is functioning in the Department. Forensic Medicine which was attached to Community medicine became a separate entity in 1966 under Dr. V. Kanthasamy. Medicolegal autopsies were undertaken since 1955 and the department was raised to the status of State Medico-legal Institute in 1986. The department of Pharmacology which initially catered pharmacy practicals later established an experimental pharmacology wing under Dr. Tyler.
The clinical departments of Medicine and Surgery were started along with the Medical College hospital in 1952. Initially the students had training at the General Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram. A separate department of Infectious Diseases was established in 1983. Dr.R.Kesavan Nair FRCS who was then the chief surgeon at General Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram was appointed as Prof. Of Surgery thus establishing the Department of Surgery. Recognizing the importance of the new specialty of orthopaedic surgery the then Government of Travancore sent Dr. K.I George from the health service Dept. to U.K on deputation for higher training. After acquiring requisite training he joined in the medical college in 1956 and founded the first Department of Orthopedics in Kerala.
The Department of Paediatrics, which was initially under General Medicine, has the highest number of patients in Kerala. The Obstetrics and Gynaecology departments were started in 1954 and later added to the Family Planning Clinic contraception testing unit, WHO training center and Infertility Clinic. The Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation established in 1968 was a pioneering institution in the country for disability management and occupational diseases.
The superspecialty departments were established in 1965 with neurosurgery under Prof. M. Sambasivan, former President of WFNS. The Department of Cardiology was established in 1972 and nephrology in 1981. Medical and Surgical Gastroenterology units were established in 1972 and 1975 respectively.
The Medical College Hospital is the premiere institution for the provision of comprehensive tertiary health care irrespective of economic or social status and disabilities. It is the largest multi-specialty hospital in South Kerala serving the major portion of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam Districts and adjacent districts of Tamil Nadu. It is administered by a Superintendent. The hospital consists of the main hospital block, Trauma care, Casualty, Out Patient Department Block, Super Specialty block, KHRWS Pay wards and Administrative block. This 3000 bed hospital admits 80,000 patients a year and provides over 7,500,000 OP consultation. The newly constructed OP block houses out-patient wings of medical and surgical specialties, pharmacy, Office of the Superintendent of the hospital, quarters of the house surgeons and post graduates. On average, the hospital manages 55 major operations, 125 minor operations, 35 normal deliveries and 15 Caesarean Sections per day. The bed occupancy remains at 90-95% throughout the year.