Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology, Thiruvananthapuram

The Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology (SCTIMST) signifies the convergence of medical science and technology, which makes it a unique institution of it's kind. The main objectives of the institute are promotion of biomedical engineering and technology, demonstration of high standards of patient care and the development of post graduate training programs of the highest quality in advanced medical specialties and in biomedical engineering and technology.The institute has a 233 bedded specialty hospital, which serves as tertiary referral centre for all cardiovascular, thoracic and neurological diseases, a technology wing to conceive and develop new hospital based technologies and a centre of excellence for health science studies. The institute has the status of a University.

Origin

Travancore, an erstwhile province of pre-independent India, was ruled by Sree Chitra Tirunal Maharajah until the country became independent in 1947 and the Government of India took over the province. Known for their munificence, the Maharajah and members of the royal family of Travancore considered themselves ‘dasa’ (servant) of Lord Padmanabha, the reigning deity of Travancore. Interestingly, they wore a turban instead of a crown as a mark of respect to Lord Padmanabha. Their philanthropy finds expression in their countless contributions to the country, then and now.

On a visit to a super-specialty hospital in Europe, Sree Chitra Tirunal Maharajah was seized with a deep desire to establish a similar institution in Kerala. Those were the times when tertiary care in cardiovascular and neurological diseases were not available in the State. In the summer of 1974, the Maharajah’s dream was fulfilled when the royal family made a gift that carried in its womb the beginnings of what later turned out to be the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology. About this time, Dr. M.S. Valiathan, trained abroad in surgery and biomedical science, returned to India to guide the destiny of the Institute. Supported magnificently by Shri. C. Achutha Menon, the then chief minister of Kerala, the Government of Kerala took the unusual step of placing the Center under the Department of Science and Technology in the State. An early decision was made that patient care will be limited to cardiology and neurology. Soon, a multi-storeyed building was added to meet the increasing demand. The expansion of clinical services did not deter from the scientific objective of the Institute and a field of endeavor relevant to its scientific and social interests was sought. The choice fell on biomaterials and a full-fledged Biomedical Technology Wing came into existence.

A steadily growing market in the post-War years had created a multi-million dollar industry for medical devices abroad. A rough estimate of India’s imports in the early seventies had placed their annual price tag at 400-500 million rupees. Rising to the need of the hour, the medical center initiated a project for the development of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) bags for storage of blood and fabrication of valvular prostheses. The significance of the effort at integrating medical science and technology was recognized by the Government of India which declared the Institute an "Institute of National Importance" in 1980.. By 1994, the institute had successfully developed and transferred many a technology to industry, bringing to fruition a long-cherished dream of its Founder-Director whose twenty years of tireless striving left its indelible mark on the fabric of the Institute.

In 1994, the mantle of Directorship fell on one who, from within, had witnessed with joy and pride all important milestones in the brief history of the Institute. To meet the dearth of health professionals at decision making and planning levels in government, a course in Public Health was started with the help of an International Faculty in the newly commissioned third wing of the Institute, christened the Achutha Menon Center for Health Sciences. The three centers, with their clinical and research activities, function to fulfil an abiding commitment to high quality health care to the community in the areas of cardiology and neurology, at a time when the cost of health care has escalated beyond the reach of many

Contact

For more information please contact:

The Director
Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology
Thiruvananthapuram, India - 695011
Phone: 91-471-2524600
Fax: 91-471-2446433, 2550728
Website: www.sctimst.ac.in