Assam govt releases budget for eight new medical colleges

Guwahati: In a significant development, the state government has released a budget for eight medical colleges as part of its plan to establish 21 medical colleges in Assam by 2026-2027. 

Currently, Assam boasts a total of 12 medical colleges. However, the government is actively engaged in the development of an additional 9 medical colleges, with plans to complete four more of them by 2026-27. It is important to note that the budget has only been allocated for 8 out of the proposed 12 medical colleges.

The 12 medical colleges, that are still in the pipeline, include Tinsukia Medical College, Biswanath Medical College, Charaideo Medical College, Pragyotishpur Medical College, Morigaon Medical College, Dhemaji Medical College, Bongaigaon Medical College, Golaghat Medical College, Tamulpur Medical College and Hospital, Sibsagar Medical College, Karimganj Medical College and Goalpara Medical College.

Also read- NMC Grants Recognition To 2 Assam Medical Colleges

The budget released for the eight medical colleges- Tinsukia will receive funding of Rs 614.933 crore, Charaideo with Rs 500 crore funding, Biswanath with Rs 500 crore funding, Tamulpur with Rs 666.935 crore funding, Dhemaji with Rs 605.248 crore funding, Bongaigaon with Rs 610.674 crore funding, Morigaon with Rs 647.375 crore funding, and Golaghat with Rs 631.823 crore funding.

Meanwhile, the funding for three proposed medical colleges in Sibsagar, Goalpara, and Karimganj has not yet been finalized. However, the proposed Pragjyotishpur Medical College in Guwahati will be funded through corporate social responsibility.

Earlier, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the construction of Tinsukia Medical College will be completed this year and medical colleges at Charideo and Biswanath Chariali will be dedicated to the service of the people by next year.

Medical Dialogues team had previously reported where the Minister said that the number of medical colleges in Assam will increase to 21 by 2026-27.

"The inauguration of the first-year courses of Nagaon, Nalbari and Kokrajhar medical colleges has marked the beginning of a new era in medical education in Assam. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the medical colleges of Nagaon, Nalbari and Kokrajhar on April 14 this year along with AIIMS in Changsari, which were constructed with an expenditure of Rs. 1,800 crore," he said.

"Before 2010, there were only three medical colleges in Assam. Jorhat Medical College was inaugurated in 2010 and five medical colleges were established during the last decade. Last year Dhubri Medical College was opened and today academic sessions of Nagaon, Nalbari and Kokrajhar medical colleges have been started," the Chief Minister added.

The Chief Minister said that in 2014, the number of MBBS seats in Assam was 726. Whereas now it has stood at 1,500 with the increase in the number of medical colleges.

As per the Hitavada news report, there are plans for seven new nursing colleges in Diphu, Lakhimpur, Dhubri, Nagaon, Kokrajhar, Jorhat, and Nalbari. The nursing colleges in Diphu, Lakhimpur, Dhubri, Nagaon, and Kokrajhar will be located within the respective medical colleges. The necessary funds have already been released for these colleges, and the State Public Works Department has prepared detailed project reports. 

The nursing colleges in Jorhat and Nalbari will be constructed at Rs 10 crore under the North Eastern Council. Furthermore, there are proposals for two more dental colleges in Lakhimpur and Morigaon.

Also read- By 2026-27, Assam Will Have 21 Medical Colleges: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma