Odisha’s Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling recently announced plans to start an MBBS course at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) and Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar.
First Government Medical College in the Capital
The minister said the government plans to include PGIMER and Capital Hospital in the redevelopment project to turn it into a major medical college. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi had also suggested to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare that MBBS courses be started there.
If approved, it will become the first government-run medical college in Bhubaneswar. Currently, only private medical colleges offer MBBS courses in the capital, and the nearest government institution is SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack. This move could give a significant boost to the state’s medical education infrastructure.
He added that he has reviewed the redevelopment proposal, which includes ongoing construction of facilities like boys’ and girls’ hostels, a lecture theatre, and an administration building, expected to be ready by July 31. The government also aims to inaugurate these facilities soon so students can begin using them.
In conversation with the Times of India, Mahaling said,
The aim of our government is to create a good government medical college in the capital city, which can create good doctors and provide treatment to people.Mukesh Mahaling, Odisha’s Health Minister
MBBS Course Still in Discussion Stage
Director of PGIMER and Capital Hospital, Dr. Sujata Misra, confirmed that authorities are actively working on the proposal and that the MBBS course is still at the discussion stage. She added that the institute currently runs PG courses across eight out of 15 sanctioned departments, with the rest expected to begin soon.
The National Medical Commission (NMC) gave approval to start PG courses in August 2022, from the same academic session.
“Previously, we had only 24 PG seats, but now we have 30 PG seats in the medical institute. The Health Minister reviewed the institute's infrastructure projects in the presence of several government officials,” she told the Times of India.
More Government Medical Colleges Planned
Earlier this week, the Health Minister also announced that the state plans to start nine new medical colleges, including:
Four MBBS colleges in Dhenkanal, Bhadrak, Nabarangpur, and Jagatsinghpur
Four dental colleges in Keonjhar, Berhampur, Bolangir, and Burla
One Ayurvedic college in Mayurbhanj
He added that two medical colleges with 100 MBBS seats each, at Phulbani in Kandhamal district and Talcher in Angul district, will start functioning from the current academic year.
With this move, the government aims to meet the growing demand for doctors in the state. Last year, over 4,000 doctors and paramedical staff were recruited, and this year the target has been raised to 5,000. The state is also aiming to fill up 1.5 lakh vacant government positions within the next five years.
Impact on Odisha’s Medical Education
These proposed plans are expected to strengthen Odisha’s medical education infrastructure, train more doctors, and ease the burden on existing institutions. They will also give aspirants from the state more options and increase the overall number of medical seats. Altogether, these steps could boost Odisha’s role in the healthcare landscape.
(Rh/Pooja Bansal/MSM/SE)