Tirunelveli Medical College

Tirunelveli Medical College
திருநெல்வேலி மருத்துவக்கல்லூரி
Motto	கடமை, கண்ணியம், கட்டுப்பாடு (Duty, Dignity, Discipline)
Type	Government Medical College and Hospital
Established	1965
Dean	Dr. Ramaguru
Academic staff	200 (approx.)
Undergraduates	150 per year (MBBS)
Postgraduates	20 total (approx.)
Address	Tirunelveli Medical College, Palayamkottai, Tamilnadu, India, Palayamkottai, Tirunelveli, Tamilnadu, India
Campus	Urban, 350 acres (1.4 km2)
Nickname	TvMC
Affiliations	Tamilnadu Dr. MGR Medical University
Website	http://www.nellaimedicos.org

Tirunelveli Medical College (TvMC) is one among the premier medical institutions in South India, located in Palayamkottai, the twin city of Tirunelveli in the state of Tamilnadu, India. The college is affiliated to Tamilnadu Dr. MGR Medical University.

Palayamkottai is known as the Oxford of South India, and is home to many institutions which have been imparting higher education since the pre-independence era. Tirunelveli is also called as Nellai and the past and present students are referred as Nellaimedicos

History

In the year 1965, the Government of Tamilnadu decided to start the Tirunelveli Medical College, with the agreement of the University of Madras. 75 students were admitted for the I MBBS course for the academic year 1965-66 and they had their first year of study in the local Arts & Science Colleges.

In July 1966, the first batch of II MBBS students started attending the classes in the then newly constructed Anatomy Block. Other departments like Pharmacology, Pathology, Microbiology and Social & Preventive Medicine started functioning in the subsequent years, and the District Headquarters Hospital was converted to Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital.

This College was affiliated to the Madurai Kamaraj University consequent to its inception in the year 1967 till the newly formed The Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University in 1988.

The College has been recognised by the Medical Council of India since the year 1978.

The number of seats for the MBBS course has been increased from 75 to 100 since 1980 and in the same year Government has accorded sanction for the starting of Post Graduate Courses. The number of seats for the MBBS course has been further increased to 150 from the year 2003.

Hostel facilities are provided both for men and women students within the campus. The college celebrated its Silver Jubliee in the year 1990.

Emblem

The Official Emblem of Tirunelveli Medical College has The Caduceus, Paddy (which has been included to denote Tiru'nel'veli ('nel'-நெல் - paddy)) and the words 'Duty, Dignity, Discipline'.

The College and Location

The Medical College

The college is present over a sprawling campus and has lecture halls, library, reading rooms, auditorium and separate hostels for men (3) and women (2). There is a Central Animal House with common laboratory animals, for conduction of research programmes.

Location

The Tirunelveli Medical College and its teaching hospital are located in an extensive area of about 350 acres (1.4 km²) of land at High Ground in Palayamkottai, the twin city of Tirunelveli in the state of Tamilnadu, India. The college, the hospital and the hostels are all located within a radius 1 kilometre. The college is located about 7 kilometres from the Railway Station and 5 kilometres from the Bus Stand.

Administration

The college is affiliated to The Tamilnadu Dr. MGR Medical University. The college and the hospital are funded and managed by The Government of Tamil Nadu.

Courses offered

Undergraduate Medical Course

MBBS (5 and a half years in duration)

Postgraduate Medical Courses

Degree courses (3 years in duration)

MD General Medicine
MD Paediatrics
MD Pathology
MD Microbiology
MD Forensic Medicine
MD Physiology
MS General Surgery
MS Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Diploma courses (2 years in duration)

DCH (Diploma in Child Health)

Paramedical Courses

Diploma in Nursing (GNM)

Admission

The college admits 150 students to the MBBS course once every year based on the performance in the Tamilnadu Higher Secondary Examinations. 15% of these seats are reserved for the Common All India Entrance Test by CBSE - All India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT).

The Staff

Professors/SCS : 12 + 59
Asst. Professors/Tutors : 54 + 87
Nursing Personnel : 176
Para Medical Staff : 241
Administrative Staff : 58
Sanitary Workers : 72
Others : 194
Total : 807

The Students

Under Graduates

CRRIs : 99
M.B.B.S Students : 575

Post Graduates

M.D General Medicine : 2
M.D Pathology : 1
M.D Forensic Medicine : 1
M.D Microbiology : 1
M.S General Surgery : 3

Paramedical

Nursing Students : 100
Multipurpose Health Workers (Female) : 30

Hospitals and Other Units

Hospitals

The Tirunelveli Government Medical College Hospital, Palayamkottai
The Freida Monner Memorial Hospital, Kalakkad also called as the Belgian Hospital.

The Tirunelveli Government Medical College Hospital is the referral hospital (tertiary care centre) for other institutions in southern Tamil Nadu. The hospital has a bed strength of 1078, with almost all speciality departments with necessary facilities like the Colour Doppler, Ultra Sound Scan, CT Scan, MRI Scan and Dialysis Unit, 800 MA and IIT (Image Intensifier TV).

View of the medical college hospital, Palayamkottai

Primary Health Centres

The following Primary Health Centres (PHCs) are attached to the college, under the Rural Oriented Medical Education (ROME) Programme.

Pathamadai
Thenthiruperai
Thisayanvilai

Mobile Ophthalmic Unit

A Mobile Ophthalmic Unit attached to the Department of Ophthalmology renders free service to people in semi-urban and rural areas by organising eye camps in Tirunelveli District and Tuticorin District.