Assam to rename Fakhruddin Ali ahmed medical college as Barpeta medical college

Guwahati: The Assam government has decided to rename Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Medical College and Hospital in Barpeta as Barpeta Medical College.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the decision was taken by the state Cabinet to keep the naming pattern of medical colleges consistent with their geographic locations.

According to the Chief Minister, the existing name often caused confusion among people, with some assuming the institution to be a private medical college. The government also stated that another suitable institution will be named after former President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed to honour his stature.

According to a recent report by UNI, Assam's government on Tuesday decided to rechristen a medical College, which was so long named after former President of India, Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told the media that the decision to rename the Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Medical College and Hospital, Barpeta, as Barpeta Medical College was taken at a meeting of the state Cabinet during the day.

"The names of all the medical colleges in Assam are geographic location specific. Like the medical College in Guwahati is Guwahati Medical College, the one in Dhubri as Dhubri Medical College etc. However, while naming this medical College in Barpeta, it was named after the former President," he said.

"This has led to confusion among the people and often the medical College in Barpeta is considered a private medical College due to the name. So the cabinet decided to rename it as Barpeta Medical College."

However, the Cabinet also decided to name after Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed another institution befitting the stature of the former President. 

During a media interaction at a programme titled 'Natun Diner Alap' (Conversations of a new day) on the occasion of the new year, the chief minister said that proton therapy machines are currently available in the country only in two private hospitals, one each in Mumbai and Chennai.

Proton therapy is a precision-based radiological treatment for cancer, and ''we have decided to bring this machine to Assam at a cost of Rs 500 crore'', he said.

Also Read:Assam to introduce Rs 500 crore Proton therapy machine for cancer care at GMCH