DIBRUGARH, Nov 4 - The Assam Medical College celebrated its 69th foundation day on Tuesday after completing 68 years as a centre of excellence for providing modern medical education and healthcare services in this part of the country.
Principal Prof AK Adhikari, unfurled the college flag. Paying of floral tributes at the bust of Dr John Berry White followed. Dr John Berry White, a retired brigadier of the British Army had sown the seed for medical education in the region. He is considered the father of modern allopathic medical education in this part of the region.
The open session held at the Berry White Memorial Auditorium was attended by the Vice- Chancellor of Dibrugarh University Dr Alak Kr Buragohain. In his speech, Dr Buragohain highly appreciated the extent of research work that is undergoing in the medical college under various national research organisations like the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT).
He expressed deep satisfaction to know that this medical college has been recognised by an international apex body like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta to carry out research project in the future. He tried to impress upon the young medicos to keep themselves updated with the latest technologies to be a part of the development process to ensure a safe and concise healthcare system.
Earlier in the meeting, Principal Dr Adhikari welcomed the gathering and presented the annual report highlighting the achievements and visions fulfilled so far. �This occasion gives us the opportunity to take stock of our achievements and to rededicate ourselves to the new challenges that lie ahead. This also reminds us of our solemn duty to remember and pay our homage to the great philanthropist Dr John Berry White whose dedication and vision gave birth to this great institution. We also pay our homage to our former principals, faculty members and staff who contributed tremendously to this institute,� he said.
Going back to the genesis of the medical institute, Dr Adhikari said that initially, Assam Medical College was raised by encompassing the Berry White Medical School and the abandoned American Military Hospital used in World War II. Although many of the old buildings have been demolished, some structures which represent the legacy of the bygone era still exist. The old operation theatre (OT � I Block) is one such building. Today it stands alone as the only exiting monument of the 56 Command Military Hospital reminding us about its glorious history and readiness to carry forward the legacy of untiring and illustrious growth of medical science across Assam Medical College with every passing year of the millennium. We have made humble efforts to restore the OT � I, as a heritage structure to remind us of the glorious past associated with it. The improvement of financial status has also helped us in addressing many of our needs, he added.
Under the Prime Minister Swasthya Suraksha Yojana phase-3, AMC has been selected for upgradation of seven super specialty departments for introduction of DM and MCH courses. The departments are Cardiology, Cardiothoracic surgery, Neurology, Neurosurgery and Urology. Under the National Medical College Network Project, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India has taken an initiative to implement a green field project on e-health including telemedicine with the purpose of e-education and e-health care delivery.
The Assam Medical College is one of the 155 medical colleges of India selected for implementation of the project. The Department of Microbiology attained a significant milestone by getting the certificate of accreditation from the National Accreditation Board for Laboratory Testing and Calibration (NABL). In public sector, AMCH is the second institute in India to get this certificate (first one being the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh).
The Department of Microbiology is identified as Apex Laboratory by CDC, Atlanta for testing all pathogenic organisms of AES. Due to our excellent track record, the AMCH has been identified for Labs for Life (L4L) � a joint project between Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India and CDC, Atlanta for developing 10 Model Labs in India in ten Medical Colleges, the AMC Principal said.
Further highlighting the achievements in the academic and research activities, the principal said that the medical institute had received full recognition of the Medical Council of India (MCI) to continue MBBS course with admission of 170 students. We got recognition in almost all PG departments, he said.
In the last final MBBS examination as well as in State PG entrance test, toppers are from the Assam Medical College. Seven out of 10 positions in the last final MBBS examination were obtained by AMC students. In 2015, 10 students from AMC got seats in DM and Mch courses in different institutions of India. Establishment of Multidisciplinary Research Laboratory with financial support from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is not only working as hub for research activities in AMCH but also initiating dissemination of knowledge among young medical faculties and PG students. Establishment of Diagnostic Genetic Lab in the Department of Anatomy has also given new opportunity for the PG students to search for a new avenue in Anatomy, other than a conventional dissection based one, Dr Adhikari mentioned.
The retired faculty members and other staff were felicitated during the meeting. Several academic and other prizes were also given away during the meeting.
