Ali R Rizvi, Principal Secretary, Health informed that State Government was keen to start classes in Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) Medical College, Ner Chowk (Mandi) during the academic year 2013-14. He said that work on Medical College building was at final stage and it would be made functional soon.

Rizvi said that State Government had urged the Central Government to grant essentiality certificate to this College as per relaxed provision so as to make it functional besides attaching it with the existing 300 bedded Zonal Hospital at Mandi. Health Minister Shri Kaul Singh Thakur had also taken up the matter with the Union Minister for Labour and Employment, Mallikarjun Kharge to direct the ESIC authorities for signing memorandum of understanding (MoU) with State Government for attaching ESIC College and Hospital with Zonal Hospital, Mandi so that it could be made functional during ensuing session.

Principal Health Secretary further said that State Government was making best efforts to make this institution functional as soon as possible to benefit the people of the State.