Setting standards in medical education

Nestled amidst lush nature, DM Wayanad Institute of Medical Sciences (WIMS) provides quality medical education as well as affordable medical treatment to people in Kerala

The DM Wayanad Institute of Medical Sciences (WIMS) opened its doors just four years ago in 2012, and in this short span of time has become renowned for its facilities as well as providing an engaging learning environment for students.
DM WIMS has a medical college that caters to students studying medicine, dentistry, nursing, and paramedical courses such as physiotherapy, pharmacy and bio-medical studies. The institute plans to start medical research in clinical and basic sciences. To its credit DM WIMS is the first medical campus in India designed on green building concepts. The group also plans to set up a not-for-profit cancer centre with radiation oncology facility and a dialysis centre to cater to the vast number of cancer patients who cannot afford medical facilities.
Devanand Kolothodi, the Chief Administrative Officer, DM WIMS, says, "The facility started as a general medical college hospital but the long term plan is to promote it for medical value travel. Today, we have three batches of MBBS students and the fourth batch will be starting this year. There are plans to develop the infrastructure such as roads and complete the landscaping, which have yet to be done. We are expecting strong referrals from other countries as well."
Kolothodi credits Dr Azad Moopen for coming up with the concept of rejuvenation. Here people can soak their minds and soul in the relaxing atmosphere of Wayanad and undergo medical procedures such as high-end cosmetology, liposuction, etc.
"Wayanad is for long-term treatment," adds Kolothodi. "We have not gone aggressively into medical tourism and have only started now. Currently, we are getting patients from Oman through a group of partners. On the international front, accreditation is our focus for now."

Rehabilitation Services
Patients with partial paralysis can look to Wayanad for complete treatment. Plus, their families can look to stay with them comfortably in the independent villas or residential apartments available at the premises. There is also an in-house gymnasium, beauty parlour, laundry services, 24-hour cafeteria, ATM, playgrounds and two-acre rainwater harvesting reservoir.
"A drive from my house to the campus is so exciting. You are surrounded by
mist, greenery, teagardens and fresh air," notes Kolothodi.
The hospital has been divided into two segments. One for the treatment for patients of general wards, while the other includes premium rooms for speciality services.

Setting Standards in medical education
The campus here focuses on medical education and caters to MBBS and nursing students. It boasts of excellent facilities for allopathic medicine, and for emergency medicine, DM WIMS has tied up with George Washington University postgraduate course in emergency medicine.
In numeric terms, the facility can cater to 900 to 1,000 outpatients per day. For inpatients there are general wards with 400 odd beds.
The Medical College, elaborates Dr C Sheshgiri, Dean, DM WIMS, started as a dream of Dr Moopen, who is quite passionate about teaching. DM WIMS will be one vertical under Dr Moopen's Academy.
"Here the focus is more on work and the use of modern technology, mainly in teaching. Currently there are 450 students studying MBBS and 120 nursing students. There are also plans to start a pharmacy college soon," adds the dean.
Some of the courses include: WI Science and Engineering that includes Biomedical Engineering, Bioinformatics and Biotechnology; WIBE - Business and Entrepreneurship and Health Management programmes, which are being developed by a Professor from IIM Ahmedabad, and DM WIDE - Distance
Education.
Furthermore, there are plans to collaborate with international universities for medicine and nursing. There are almost 50 to 500 acres allocated for further expansion, of which 100 acres will be for an international school.
The facility provides local employment to almost 1,800 people in the area. DM WIMS has also signed an MOU with the district organisation, according to which free medical care will be offered to tribals including delivery and care for the mother and newborn. The Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) is a government-run health insurance scheme for BPL families and DM WIMS is part of it.

Affordable Quality Treatment
DM WIMS offers an economic package for patients who are referred for angioplasty. A wing for infertility treatment and a genetic lab are in the pipeline. Three floors are to be set aside exclusively for Medical Value Travel in phase two of the building. This will include angioplasty, neurosurgery elective procedure and kidney transplant unit and will cater to people from the Middle East and GCC.
DM WIMS offers tailor-made packages, where quality is maintained in a stress-free environment. Furthermore, the local ambience, natural surroundings, and focus on Ayurveda, make it a one-of-a-kind facility.

Scenic Wayanad
Wayanad is one among the must see destinations in the world. The nearest airport is Calicut, which is just two hours away by road. District authorities are trying to get an airstrip in the area in order to bring in patients or tourists directly by air. Companions with patients can be at ease and enjoy the ambience of Wayanad. Places to visit are the Edakkal caves, the Soojipara, Kanthanpara and Neermudi waterfalls, the Bansura Sagar Dam, as well as the Kuruvadeep Island, which can be reached through old rowboats.
suchitra@khaleejtimes.com