In a significant leap forward for medical education and specialized healthcare, Odisha has secured approval from the National Medical Commission (NMC) to add 318 new Postgraduate (PG) medical seats across its state-run medical institutions.
This massive expansion increases the state’s total PG seat matrix from 620 to an impressive 938.
A First for Five Government Colleges Marking a historic milestone in the decentralization of medical education, five newer government medical colleges in the state will offer PG courses for the very first time. The seat distribution for these institutions is as follows:
- Dharanidhar Medical College, Keonjhar: 44 seats (10 departments)
- Pavitra Mohan Pradhan Medical College, Talcher: 32 seats (10 departments)
- Saheed Laxman Nayak Medical College, Koraput: 28 seats (9 departments)
- Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati Medical College, Phulbani: 27 seats (8 departments)
- Government Medical College, Sundargarh: 22 seats (8 departments)
Upgrades for Existing Institutions Alongside the new additions, several established medical colleges have received substantial seat hikes.
- Bhima Bhoi Medical College, Balangir: Increased from 10 to 54 seats
- Fakir Mohan Medical College, Balasore: Increased from 8 to 54 seats
- PRM Medical College, Baripada: Increased from 20 to 53 seats
- SCB Medical College, Kataka: 17 new seats
- PGIMER & Capital Hospital, Bhubaneswar: 11 new seats
- VIMSAR, Burla: 11 new seats
- Acharya Harihar Post Graduate Institute of Cancer, Cuttack: 3 new seats
These newly approved seats span 14 critical medical departments, including Anatomy, Anesthesiology, Biochemistry, Community Medicine, ENT, General Medicine, General Surgery, Microbiology, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Orthopedics, Pediatrics, Pathology, Psychiatry, and Respiratory Medicine.
A Step Towards Regional Healthcare Equality
Odisha’s Health and Family Welfare Minister, Dr. Mukesh Mahaling, expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Union Health Minister JP Nadda, and the NMC for making this possible.
“Increasing the PG seats from 620 to 938 is not just an expansion of medical education; it is a historic step towards creating a larger pool of skilled specialist doctors in the state,” Dr. Mahaling stated. “Introducing PG programs in regions like Kendujhar, Sundaragada, Koraput, Talcher, and Phulbani will strengthen regional equality and decentralize healthcare. This ensures that in the future, quality specialist healthcare will be easily accessible to people right in their local areas.”
This infrastructural boost is expected to open up new research opportunities for medical students while significantly addressing the shortage of specialist doctors in Odisha’s peripheral and tribal regions.
