WB CM Suvendu Adhikari announces 4 new medical colleges
Kolkata: To boost medical education in West Bengal, the Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced four new medical colleges for the state recently, bringing the total number of colleges in the state to around 30.
This announcement was made while presiding over a virtual meeting with Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda.
These new colleges will be established in Alipurduar, Kalimpong, South Dinajpur, and West Bardhaman, reports TOI. These announcements were welcomed across all districts. Currently, there are 26 government medical colleges in Bengal, five of which are located in Kolkata.
In this region, the oldest and largest government referral hospital and medical college is the 'North Bengal Medical College and Hospital,' located in Sushrutanagar, on the outskirts of Siliguri, in the district of Darjeeling.
Meanwhile, in Alipurduar, which has been a district since 2014 and where a struggle regarding healthcare infrastructure had been ongoing for a long time, BJP MLA Paritosh Das stated that the local residents are pleased with these announcements.
In Kalimpong, the District Chief Medical Officer stated that the process of identifying land has already commenced; however, he also cautioned that the land acquisition process in hilly regions differs and may take time.
This announcement by South Dinajpur fulfils a long-standing demand of the local residents. Currently, critically ill patients in the district have no alternative but to undertake a journey of approximately 120 kilometres to reach Malda Medical College, as neither the Gangarampur Super Speciality Hospital nor the Balurghat District Hospital possesses the necessary infrastructure for their treatment.
A resident of Asansol, West Bardhaman, stated that students from the district will no longer need to travel to other districts to pursue medical studies.
The CM also stated that the proposed AIIMS for North Bengal would be finalised regarding its location following consultation with the MLAs of the region.
