Goa to get second govt medical college as Centre approves 50 MBBS seats for 2027-28 at ESIC hospital Margao
Goa: In a boost for medical education and health infrastructure in Goa, the state is set to get its second government medical college, following the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare's approval for 50 MBBS seats at the Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) Hospital in Margao, effective from the 2027-28 academic year.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced this approval recently while expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Health Minister JP Nadda.
According to the EdexLive media news report, this new institution will be operated by the ESIC, which falls under the Union Ministry of Labour and Employment. However, 25 out of the 50 MBBS seats will be reserved for students from Goa. It is expected that the state government will provide the necessary infrastructure for the college.
The plan is to establish this college within the ESIC hospital complex in Margao, South Goa. The state government had handed over this hospital to the ESIC in July 2026 under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The proposal to establish the college had been under consideration since 2025. The ESIC initiated the process for setting up the institution and inspected the site, while the proposal also required the necessary academic and regulatory approvals.
Goa University had previously received a proposal from the ESIC seeking affiliation for a medical college. The university stated that the application must meet the prescribed requirements before affiliation can be granted.
Meanwhile, the state’s existing government medical institution, Goa Medical College (GMC), serves as the primary public hub for medical education in the state. According to reports, the sanctioned intake capacity cannot be increased without meeting the necessary infrastructure-related criteria.
