Odisha to set up 4 new medical colleges, 150 more MBBS seats to be added
Odisha: To expand access to medical education, the Odisha government is planning to open four new medical colleges across the state.
Currently, the state has a total of 3,025 Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) seats. Eight nursing colleges and 21 ANM training centres are operational in Odisha.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Mukesh Mahaling provided this information in the State Assembly on Monday. This information was shared in response to a written question asked by Mohana MLA Dasharathi Gomango.
While replying to the questions, the minister informed the State Assembly that, out of the existing 3,025 seats, 1,800 seats are in 14 government medical colleges, 1,100 seats are in six private colleges, and 125 seats are at AIIMS Bhubaneswar.
Moreover, to enhance capacity, the government is set to add a total of 50 seats at Maharaja Jajati Kesari Medical College and Hospital (MJKMCH), Jajpur; 25 seats at Shaheed Laxman Nayak Medical College and Hospital (SLN MCH), Koraput; 25 seats at Pandit Raghunath Murmu Medical College and Hospital (PRMMCH), Baripada; and 50 seats at Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR), Burla.
According to an Ommcommnews media news report, the Minister also stated that steps are also being taken to establish new Government Medical Colleges (GMCs) in the districts of Dhenkanal, Jagatsinghpur, Bhadrak, and Nabarangpur.
In addition, the government is in the process of opening eight more nursing colleges and has proposed establishing nursing, paramedical, and allied medical science colleges in a phased manner in districts where such institutions do not currently exist.
Dr Mahaling stated that these initiatives are part of the state's broader efforts to strengthen healthcare infrastructure across Odisha and improve access to medical education.
