Health Minister inaugurates 2 new Govt Medical Colleges in MP
Bhopal: Union Health Minister JP Nadda recently inaugurated two new government medical colleges in Sheopur and Singrauli. With this, the state now has 19 government medical colleges and 13 private institutions.
Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav noted that the expansion marks a sharp rise from just five government colleges before 2003, adding that the state is aiming to reach 26 government medical colleges in the coming years. The Health Ministry also signed agreements to establish four new medical colleges under the Public–Private Partnership (PPP) model, providing further momentum to the growth of medical education in the state.
Union Minister Nadda, highlighting the national picture, pointed out that the number of medical colleges in India has doubled in the past decade- from 387 in 2014 to 780 at present. Undergraduate medical seats have also seen a threefold jump, from 56,000 to 1.7 lakh, with plans to add another 75,000 UG and PG seats in the next five years.
According to government's statement, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda inaugurated new Government Medical Colleges in Sheopur and Singrauli, along with a series of centrally sponsored health programmes aimed at strengthening public health and community outreach in Madhya Pradesh.
Dr Mohan Yadav, Chief Minister, Madhya Pradesh; Shri Rajendra Shukla, Deputy Chief Minister, Public Health and Medical Education Department, Madhya Pradesh and Shri Hemant Khandelwal, MLA, Betul, Madhya Pradesh were also present.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri J P Nadda highlighted the Government’s vision of expanding access to quality medical education and healthcare services, while ensuring that citizens across the country benefit from modern facilities and preventive health initiatives.
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As part of the programme, the initiatives which were launched include inauguration of New Government Medical Colleges in Sheopur and Singrauli- These colleges will significantly expand opportunities for medical education and healthcare delivery in underserved regions; Distribution of 8 lakh Vay Vandana PVC Cards: Aimed at facilitating access to health services for beneficiaries; Launch of ‘Ayushman Sakhi’ Smart Chatbot: An interactive platform designed to provide citizens with easy access to information and support under health schemes; Milestone under Swasthya Yakrit Mission (Healthy Liver Mission): Achievement of 1 crore screenings under the mission was formally announced; Maternal and Child Health promotion: Release of communication material on maternal nutrition, along with the introduction of the new Mother and Child Protection (MCP) Card.
On the occasion, agreements were also signed for the establishment of four new Medical Colleges under the Public–Private Partnership (PPP) mode with the support of the Union Health Ministry, further expanding opportunities for medical education and service delivery in the state.
These initiatives mark a significant step towards expanding medical education, strengthening preventive healthcare, empowering frontline health workers, and improving maternal and child health outcomes in Madhya Pradesh.
Shri Nadda noted that with 17 Government Medical Colleges and 13 private colleges, Madhya Pradesh is emerging as a strong performer in the health sector. He highlighted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the focus of India’s national health policy is to develop a “holistic health care system”, which not only focuses on curative part in health care but also emphasises on the preventive care, palliative care, rehabilitative care, geriatric care and promotional health care.
Shri Nadda highlighted the significant strides in medical education, stating, “In 2014, there were 387 medical colleges in the country. Today, that number has increased to 780, reflecting the government’s commitment to strengthening healthcare infrastructure. Likewise, the number of undergraduate (UG) medical seats has grown from 56,000 to 1,70,000.
Looking ahead, our goal is to add another 75,000 UG and PG seats over the next five years”. “Additionally, out-of-pocket expenditure on healthcare has significantly reduced — from 62% earlier to 39% now”, he added.
Shri Nadda also emphasized the transformative steps taken to democratize access to medical education and strengthen India’s global health leadership. “We introduced the NEET exam in 13 languages, enabling students from rural and remote areas to pursue medical careers. In the past, it took 20–28 years for India to develop or access vaccines like tuberculosis, tetanus, and polio, and nearly 100 years for the Japanese encephalitis vaccine.
However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, India developed two indigenous vaccines in just 9 months — a remarkable scientific achievement. Through the Vaccine Maitri initiative, these vaccines were delivered to over 100 countries, 48 of which received them free of cost, showcasing India’s commitment to global health and humanitarian values.”
Dr Mohan Yadav highlighted the significant progress made in the health sector during the last decade. He stated, “Before 2003, there were only 5 medical colleges in the state. Today the number has grown to 17 government medical colleges and 13 private medical colleges. AIIMS Bhopal was also recently established in the state.
Now, with the recent approval letters for 2 more medical colleges, the total number of government medical colleges has reached 19. We are confident and hopeful that this number will rise to 26 in the coming years.”
He stated that the inauguration of two medical colleges in Sheopur and Singrauli goes on to show the commitment of the government for tribal population. He also credited the Ayushman Bharat PMJAY scheme that gives 5 lakhs of financial help for the downtrodden. “To provide land for medical colleges at Rs. 1/- per acre has been monumental step for PPP model colleges and hospital”, he further stated.
