Bhubaneswar, 06 November (H.S.): Odisha has achieved a significant milestone in medical education, with the National Medical Commission (NMC) approving 318 additional postgraduate (PG) medical seats in government medical colleges and medical education institutions across the State. With this approval, the total number of PG medical seats in Odisha has increased from 620 to 938.

The additional seats have been approved across 14 medical disciplines. Notably, five government medical colleges in Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Koraput, Talcher and Phulbani will offer postgraduate medical courses for the first time, expanding access to specialised medical education in different regions of the State.

Until now, PG medical education in Odisha was available at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, MKCG Medical College in Berhampur, VIMSAR in Burla, Bhima Bhoi Medical College and Hospital in Balangir, Fakir Mohan Medical College and Hospital in Balasore, and Pandit Raghunath Murmu Medical College in Baripada. The Acharya Harihar Postgraduate Institute of Cancer and PGIMER and Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar also offer postgraduate medical courses.

Five new colleges receive PG seats for the first time

According to the NMC approval, Dharanidhar Medical College and Hospital in Keonjhar has received 44 PG seats across 10 departments. Government Medical College and Hospital in Sundargarh has been allotted 22 seats across eight departments, while Saheed Laxman Nayak Medical College and Hospital in Koraput has received 28 seats across nine departments.

Similarly, Pabitra Mohan Pradhan Medical College and Hospital in Talcher has been granted 32 seats across 10 departments, while Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati Government Medical College and Hospital in Phulbani has received 27 seats across eight departments.

Existing institutions have also received additional seats. At Pandit Raghunath Murmu Medical College and Hospital in Baripada, the number of PG seats has increased from 20 to 53. Bhima Bhoi Medical College and Hospital in Balangir has witnessed an increase from 10 to 54 seats, while Fakir Mohan Medical College and Hospital in Balasore has seen its PG seat capacity rise from eight to 54.

Besides, PGIMER and Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar has received 11 additional seats, SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack 17, Acharya Harihar Postgraduate Institute of Cancer three, and VIMSAR in Burla 11 additional PG seats.

14 medical disciplines to benefit

The newly approved seats will be available in 14 disciplines, including Anatomy, Anaesthesiology, Biochemistry, Community Medicine, ENT, General Medicine, General Surgery, Microbiology, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Orthopaedics, Paediatrics, Pathology, Psychiatry and Respiratory Medicine.

Expansion to strengthen specialist healthcare: Health Minister

Expressing satisfaction over the development, Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Mukesh Mahaling said that Odisha's healthcare and medical education sectors had entered a new phase under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the leadership of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.

He also expressed gratitude to Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda and the National Medical Commission for their support.

The Minister said that the increase in PG medical seats from 620 to 938 was not merely an expansion of medical education but a historic step towards producing a larger pool of skilled and specialist doctors in the State.

He observed that the introduction of postgraduate medical education for the first time in Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Koraput, Talcher and Phulbani would strengthen regional equity and decentralisation of healthcare services. This would make quality medical education and specialised healthcare more accessible across different parts of Odisha.

The expansion is expected to strengthen the State's medical education infrastructure and create new opportunities for higher studies and research for medical students. It will also help increase the availability of specialist doctors and improve access to quality healthcare services for people in their own regions.

The addition of 318 PG medical seats is being viewed as a significant step towards strengthening Odisha's healthcare system and developing a more robust pool of specialist medical professionals.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda