The Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University

Talking about the history of MGR Medical University, the need to have a separate Medical University in Tamilnadu exclusively to deal with medical education and research at Under graduate, Post graduate and Doctoral level was keenly felt for over a period of years and was under consideration of the State Government since 1980. The State Government appointed a High Level Committee consisting of Dr. A. Venugopal, Dr. M. Natarajan and Dr. S. Kameswaran to go into all aspects of establishing a separate Medical University and make suitable recommendations to the State Government.

Apart from modern medicine, the Committee was also requested to examine and suggest improvements to be made in other traditional systems of Indian Medicine viz. Siddha, Ayurveda and Unani. The intension was that the Medical University to be established in Tamil Nadu should bring about co-ordination between various educational and training institutions of modern medicine as well as other Indian Systems of Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, Pharmacy, etc. and promote research. Based on the report of the Committee, the Medical University was established by the Government of Tamil Nadu.

The MGR University promotes research, disseminates knowledge, and is eligible for central assistance under UGC Act 1956 (UGC letter No. F.9-14/2007 [CPP-I] dt 12.3.2008). MGR University is the only Medical University in Tamil Nadu that is capable of granting affiliation to new institutions under Government or Self-financing in Medical, Dental, Indian Medicine/Homoeopathy & Allied Health Sciences (Pharmacy, Nursing, Physiotherapy, Occupational therapy and many others) and awarding degrees under a single umbrella to maintain uniform and high standards of education. Until 1988, all degrees in Health Sciences were awarded by the University of Madras.