The proposal to start MBBS admissions at Asramam ESI Model and Super Specialty Hospital for the academic year 2026-27 has sparked a political spat with MP NK Premachandran accusing the health ministry of sabotaging the ₹600 crore centrally funded project by withholding the mandatory Essentiality Certificate.
He claimed here on Friday that the rejection was a “mysterious move designed to protect the commercial interests of a private hospital in the CPI(M)-controlled region”.
Mr. Premachandran alleged that though the ESI Corporation (ESIC) filed the application on January 9, 2026, the state government sat on the file till the last minute. Even after the National Medical Commission (NMC) extended the deadline till February 3 and the ESIC CEO gave a formal undertaking to rectify all infrastructural deficiencies before the college starts operations, the health minister reportedly refused to grant the certificate. The MP called it a “betrayal of the working class”, especially cashew workers, whose children would benefit from affordable medical education.
Reacting to the allegations, CPI(M) Kollam district acting secretary S. Jayamohan called the claims “bizarre and politically motivated”.
“It was around a year ago that the ESI Corporation Board decided to set up 10 ESI Medical Colleges, which included the ESI Asramam Hospital. But till now, no action has been taken by the Central Government or ESI in this regard,” he said. He said an inspection conducted by the Director of Medical Education on January 19 revealed an almost complete lack of infrastructure at the Ashram hospital. He added that there are no classrooms, administrative blocks or adequate staffing of faculties as required by NMC norms. “Granting a certificate to an institution with zero facilities would lead to immediate de-recognition by the NMC, jeopardizing the future of prospective students,” he said.
Mr. Jayamohan also cited the then ESIC CEO’s letter in 2014 suggesting that the state government should take over the hospital as the Center was unable to run it. He said the allegation is just a ploy to divert attention from the Centre’s failure to grant Kerala the All India Institute of Medical Sciences and the neglect of Kollam in the Union Budget.
Published – 06 Feb 2026 18:32 IST
