Bangalore, Aug 16: The Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), which runs an unique social security health scheme and runs largest medical infrastructure in the world, has sought permission from the center to start 11 new Medical colleges in the country, ESIC Director General Prabhat C Chaturvedi said today.

Speaking to UNI on the sidelines of a function organised for laying foundation for upgradation and modernisation works taken up at a cost of Rs 160 Crore for ESI Hospital here, he said that ESIC has a huge infrastructure of medical facilities including 144 hospitals, 42 hospital annexes and now decided to set up its own medical colleges.

Stating that a proposal has already been sent to the Center to start 11 medical colleges with an intake of 100 students, he said that the Corporation has earmarked over Rs 250 crore for the purpose.

Expressing confidence that taking note of having state-of-the-art health facilities across the state, the center would accord permission to ESIC for setting up new medical colleges from the next academic year itself.

Besides starting new medical colleges in the country, the ESIC was also accorded permission to admit as many as 440 PG medical courses in its chain of hospitals. "ESIC has tied up with various medical institutions and Universities to teach PG students utilising its clinical facilities" he said.

Replying to questions, Mr Chaturvedi said that the Rajajinagar ESI hospital, which was taken up for upgradation and modernisation at a cost of Rs 160 crores has all the requisite facilities to start Medical college with an intake of 100 seats, likely to admit students from 2009-10. ESIC run hospitals also has plans to offer courses in Nursing, Dental, Pharmacy and other para-medical courses.

-- UNI