Madurai Medical College - MMC

A long cherished dream of a Medical College at Madurai the Temple City – came into reality in the year 1954 with the great efforts of the National Leader late Thiru K. Kamaraj.Thirumathi Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, the then Hon’ble Minister for Health, the Government of India inaugurated the Institution on 2.8.1954 at the old Taluk Building at the Fair Weather road, Madurai.The Special Officer Dr. K.P.Sarathy and the first Principal Dr. Tmt. Sarah. J. Sowri were responsible in no small measure for the rapid improvements of the college in a short span of time. The present buildings were occupied by the departments in 1958, till which time they were functioning in the semi-permanent buildings.The fifty students who were admitted in the first batch were fondly referred to as the “FIRST FIFTY”. The University of Madras to which this Institution was affiliated accorded permanent recognition to this College in the year 1954. The first batch of students of this college got graduated in 1960. The Medical Council of India accorded recognition in 1961. Recognition by the General Medical Council of Great Britain was accorded in 1965.Dr. C.K. Padmanabha Menon, an astute Administrator and an illustrious teacher took charge as the first Dean in 1963. The Government Rajaji Hospital (then called Erskine Hospital) along with the Madurai Medical College was administered by the Dean. The number of seats of the MBBS Course was increased to 200 in 1963 soon after the Chinese aggression and subsequently it was reduced to 175 in 1971.When the Madurai Kamaraj University, (formerly known as Madurai University) was established, the Madurai Medical College was affiliated to it. Subsequently when the Tamilnadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University was started, like all other College in the state, Madurai Medical College also was affiliated to it. A well-equipped library with adequate collection of textbooks and journals in various fields of Medical disciplines is attached to the Madurai Medical College. The Library has got the facility of MEDLAR, a medical information retrieving system which is a great boon to the student community. Many departments undertake research works with grant from I.C.M.R. and Tamilnadu State Research Scheme. A well-maintained Animal House is available for this purpose and it is under the care of qualified Veterinary Assistant Surgeon. The World Health Organization has chosen this Institution to undertake research projects on Human Reproduction and Population Dynamics.An Infectious Disease Hospital and Thoracic Medicine Hospital, Thoppur for patients with chest diseases are attached to this Institution. A peripheral wing of the Government Rajaji Hospital, to cater to the needs of the public of the southern parts of Madurai was stated at Balarengapuram in 1976. A Centre for Rehabilitation of the Blind is also attached to this Institution. This College was one of the first four Medical Colleges in India to which the Government of India had sanctioned a Mobile Training Cum Service Centre in 1971 and its work had been applauded on the floors of Lok Sabha by Brig.B.N. Sinha, the then President of Indian Medical Council.This College is not lagging behind in taking care of the rural population, the lung of India, as the students (House Surgeons) and the Medical staffs partake in the Rural Mobile Service team under ‘ROME’ scheme which visits the adjoining rural centers daily.The Institution celebrated its Silver Jubilee in the year 1980. To commemorate this, a specious, well-furnished, modern Auditorium was constructed.