UP: Gorakhpur Basti division set to turn hub of medical studies, healthcare

Gorakhpur: The health infrastructure in Gorakhpur-Basti divisions of eastern UP has undergone a complete transformation under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath during the last four years.

Prior to that, there was total dependence of patients from the seven districts of the division, in addition to those from the bordering areas of Azamgarh, Mau, Bihar and Nepal on the Baba Raghav Das (BRD) Medical College in Gorakhpur for treatment. Heavy crowding of patients at BRD, lack of effective treatment facilities and with a disease like encephalitis keeping the state administration on tenterhooks in eastern UP since 1977.

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But, things have changed drastically since Yogi Adityanath took the reins of the state four years ago. The health infrastructure in eastern UP has undergone a massive facelift during his regime.

The region has received the gift of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Gorakhpur that boasts of world-class medical facilities. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave the credit for the establishment of AIIMS at the cost of Rs 1000 crore in Gorakhpur to the CM. Furthermore, three new medical colleges have become almost complete in Basti, Siddharthnagar and Deoria while construction of another medical college is underway in Kushinagar. Besides, the budget for the construction of medical colleges based on PPP model has been announced in Maharajganj and Kushinagar districts.

Officials here on Thursday said 3 new medical colleges have been established in Gorakhpur-Basti division in the last four years. Besides, while there is one under construction, two other medical colleges are proposed for the remaining districts.

Until 2017, there was only BRD Medical College in Gorakhpur. After Yogi Adityanath took over as CM of Uttar Pradesh, a medical college was constructed in Basti district at the cost of Rs 200 crore. The medical college is operational now. Another two medical colleges are on the verge of completion at Siddharthanagar, which until recently was known as one of the most backward districts of the country, and Deoria at the cost of Rs 226 crore and Rs 207 crore respectively.

Meanwhile, work on Rs 282 crore project is in progress at Kushinagar. In Maharajganj too, the Yogi Government plans to open a medical college based on PPP model. The medical college found a mention in this year's budget while the CM also made a formal announcement regarding the project on February 27 at the inauguration and foundation laying ceremony of development projects in Maharajganj.

The Gorakhpur-Basti division is set to become the hub of both better medical care and education in the coming years. As of 2017, there were only 100 seats in the BRD Medical College in Gorakhpur for MBBS studies in this zone.

The Yogi Government has increased the number of seats to 150 while introducing another 100 seats for MBBS course at the 500-bedded Basti Medical College. The medical colleges at Deoria and Siddharthnagar are also ready with 100 seats each sanctioned for MBBS course. Besides, with the under-construction medical college at Kushinagar and proposed medical colleges at Maharajganj and Santakbirnagar coming into being, 300 more seats for MBBS course will be available for medical aspirants taking the total number of seats in the region to 750.

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