The Ministry gave its approval to KIIT University to start MBBS and BDS programmes on the recommendations of both Medical Council of India (MCI) and Dental Council of India (DCI).

The formal approval letter was issued by the Health Ministry of Health in favour of KIIT University on Friday.

Delighted over the development, A. Samanta, Founder Secretary, KIIT, said KIIT Medical College (KIMS) would be modeled as one of the best medical colleges in the eastern region of the country.

Samanta expressed his gratitude to Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramdoss and authorities of MCI and DCI for their continuous support to KIIT.

Intake in both the programmes, MBBS and BDS, will be 100 each in the academic year 2007-08 and admissions will be done through Orissa JEE.

A fully functional 350-bedded super specialty hospital, Pradyumna Bal Memorial Hospital, is attached to the medical college.

KIMS will become the third private medical college in Orissa to offer MBBS courses. Hi-Tech Medical College and Hospital in Bhubaneswar was the first private institution to offer MBBS courses a few years ago.

Institute of Medical Sciences, a sister concern of Bhubaneswar-based technical college ITER, is also set to start its MBBS programme from 2007-08 academic session with 100 students. It was granted approval recently.