Uttarakhand opens five government medical colleges in 24 years and expands access to healthcare | India News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: In its 24-year journey as a state, Uttarakhand has made significant progress in healthcare, including the establishment of five government medical colleges – a notable improvement considering none existed at the time of state formation. At the same time, the state has the Ayushman Chart Chartallowing free medical treatment up to Rs 5 lakh to eligible residents.
Prime Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s government has prioritized affordable, high-quality healthcare, focusing on opening new hospitals and upgrading existing facilities to increase access for all. The Ayushman program in particular is a cornerstone of healthcare for the people of Uttarakhand. The program offers Rs 5 lakh in annual coverage to 2.3 million families in the state, accepted at over 22,000 recognized government and private hospitals across the country. This year, more than 960,000 senior citizens in Uttarakhand aged 70 years and above will also receive an additional Rs 5 lakh under the scheme, leaving the treatment limits for younger family members unaffected.

New medical colleges established in three years

During Chief Minister Dhami’s three-year tenure, Uttarakhand added two new government medical colleges. Almora Medical College started its operations in 2022 while Haridwar Medical College will open this academic session. With 200 MBBS seats between them, the total number of first-year MBBS seats in the state has now reached 625, addressing a key area of ​​healthcare shortage. Almora’s college started classes in 2022, while Haridwar Medical College, which was completed this year, has received approval for 100 seats in the 2024-2025 academic session. Further expansion efforts are underway with plans for medical colleges in Pithoragarh and Rudrapur.

Improvements in cancer care

In a bid to strengthen specialized healthcare, the state has started setting up cancer care units in five districts. Until recently, Haldwani and Doon Medical College were the only government institutions offering cancer care, leaving many patients without access to necessary treatment within the state. A new 300-bed cancer hospital is also under construction in Harrawala, Dehradun, and will be operated on a public-private partnership (PPP) model to widen access to cancer care in Uttarakhand.
“Our economic performance is encouraging. The per capita income in the state has increased seventeen times. We have set a target to double the state’s GSDP in the next five years. We are moving steadily forward in this direction,” Prime Minister Dhami said, highlighting the government’s focus on economic and infrastructural growth besides healthcare expansion.