Bangalore, Aug 21:A proposal for starting a postgraduate course in hospital administration at St John’s Medical College and Hospital may get approval from the government soon.
The proposal was submitted to the Department of Medical Education three years ago.
However, at a recent function at the college, the matter was brought to the notice of Medical Education Minister Sharanprakash Patil by Fr Lawrence D’Souza, Director of St John’s Medical College and Hospital.
The minister assured the director that the approval would be given at the earliest.
Patil told Deccan Herald, “I have asked my officers to find the file pertaining to the proposal and I will give approval for it soon.”
While the college already teaches hospital administration as a certificate course, it is mainly an “in-house course,” with enrolment of doctors within the mission.
“There are a number of doctors from the mission who run small dispensaries and healthcare centres in rural areas. They find this course very helpful. A postgraduate course will now open the doors to the course for all,” said D’Souza.
In demand
According to Dr George D’Souza, chief of medical services, St John’s Medical College and Hospital, the college had been receiving repeated requests to start the course for a long time now.
These were requests mostly from those who wanted to manage their own medical establishments and health centres, which prompted the management to consider it.
Applicants with a medical background will be ideal to enrol for the course, said D’Souza.
“Administration of a hospital is very different from that of any other establishment and what can be a better environment to impart such training than a well-known college and hospital?” said D’Souza.
