This funding will be utilized to establish the new medical college and upgrade the existing 120-bed hospital into a 422-bed teaching hospital.
BENGALURU (India CSR) — The Christian Medical College (CMC) Vellore has announced plans to establish a new medical college and teaching hospital at its Chittoor campus. In a significant development, CMC Vellore also unveiled a partnership with the Azim Premji Foundation to provide value-based healthcare and medical education, particularly for disadvantaged communities.
Grant to Boost Medical Infrastructure
Under the partnership, the Azim Premji Foundation will extend a Rs 500 crore grant to CMC Vellore. This funding will be utilized to establish the new medical college and upgrade the existing 120-bed hospital into a 422-bed teaching hospital. The grant aims to extend the distinct elements of CMC’s MBBS education, focusing on Primary-cum-Secondary Health Care (PSHC), thereby addressing the widening disparities in the Indian healthcare sector.
Vision for the Chittoor Campus
Dr. Vikram Mathews, Director of CMC Vellore, shared his aspirations for the new facility, “Our dream is that the new medical college and teaching hospital at our Chittoor Campus will offer a replicable model of relevant medical education, healthcare delivery, research, and outreach, sensitive to the financial, societal, and resource constraints of our nation. We are immensely grateful to the Azim Premji Foundation for partnering with us on this journey as CMC Vellore steps into her 125th anniversary in 2025.”
Commitment to Quality Healthcare
Anurag Behar, Chief Executive Officer of the Azim Premji Foundation, lauded CMC Vellore’s commitment to healthcare and education: “CMC Vellore is an exemplary institution – the highest quality education and healthcare with deep social commitment. This has made them one of the true beacons for Indian healthcare. We are privileged to support them as they establish their second medical college.”
Evolution of the Chittoor Campus
Dr. Solomon Sathishkumar, Principal of CMC Vellore, reflected on the journey of the Chittoor Campus, “Education at the Chittoor Campus began with allied health science courses and a College of Nursing five years ago. We hope that the new Medical College will evolve into a national resource for the advancement of the discipline of Primary-cum-Secondary Health Care, with a mandate to train general physicians who can function in any eventual role, but with preferential emphasis on quality primary and secondary care.”
Building on an Existing Partnership
The partnership builds on the association between CMC Vellore and the Azim Premji Foundation, which began in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic when India’s healthcare system faced significant disruptions. The collaboration aims to further strengthen healthcare delivery and education to meet the growing needs of society.
The CMC Vellore
The Christian Medical College Vellore is a top-ranked educational, healthcare, and research institution in India. Located in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, CMC is a 3,675-bed multi-specialty healthcare institution of international repute. With primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary-care hospitals in the Vellore and Ranipet districts of Tamil Nadu and Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, CMC serves over 32 lakh patients annually, providing charitable subsidies of over Rs 300 crore each year.
Educational and Research Excellence
In the field of education, CMC Vellore has consistently ranked among the top institutions in India. Offering 229 courses across Medical, Nursing, and Allied Health education, CMC provides education to over 2,000 students annually at a fraction of the actual cost. Around 1,300 students also benefit from distance education programs. Research remains a key focus for CMC, with over Rs 100 crore allocated annually to address pressing healthcare needs with locally relevant solutions.
Commitment to Community Outreach
Outreach is a central pillar of CMC’s mission, with community health programs covering local populations of around 5 lakh people and a network of 170 partner hospitals delivering vital healthcare services to rural and marginalized communities across India. CMC Vellore continues to emphasize the importance of providing accessible, quality healthcare to those most in need.
(India CSR)
