Paperman Media। Bhubaneswar, November 6
Odisha has achieved a major milestone in medical education with the National Medical Commission (NMC) approving 318 additional postgraduate (PG) medical seats across 14 disciplines in government medical colleges and institutions in the State. With this approval, the total number of PG medical seats in Odisha has increased from 620 to 938.
The expansion will also enable five government medical colleges in Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Koraput, Talcher and Phulbani to introduce postgraduate medical courses for the first time.
As per the approval, Dharanidhar Medical College and Hospital, Keonjhar, has received 44 PG seats across 10 departments; Government Medical College and Hospital, Sundargarh, 22 seats in eight departments; Saheed Laxman Nayak Medical College and Hospital, Koraput, 28 seats in nine departments; Pabitra Mohan Pradhan Medical College and Hospital, Talcher, 32 seats in 10 departments; and Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati Government Medical College and Hospital, Phulbani, 27 seats in eight departments.
The number of PG seats has also increased at existing institutions. Pandit Raghunath Murmu Medical College, Baripada, now has 53 seats against 20 earlier, while Bhima Bhoi Medical College, Balangir, has 54 against 10 and Fakir Mohan Medical College, Balasore, has 54 against eight.
Additionally, 11 seats have been approved for PGIMER and Capital Hospital, Bhubaneswar; 17 for SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack; three for Acharya Harihar Post Graduate Institute of Cancer; and 11 for VIMSAR, Burla.
The additional seats cover 14 disciplines, including General Medicine, General Surgery, Anaesthesiology, Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Orthopaedics, ENT, Psychiatry and Pathology.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Mukesh Mahaling said the expansion, under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the leadership of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, marks a historic step towards strengthening medical education and healthcare in Odisha. He also thanked Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda and the NMC for their support.
He said the expansion would create more opportunities for higher medical education and research, increase the availability of specialist doctors and strengthen regional healthcare services. The introduction of PG courses in five new locations will also promote regional equity and decentralisation of specialised medical education.
The initiative is expected to strengthen Odisha's medical education infrastructure and improve access to quality and specialised healthcare across the State.
