In a significant step toward enhancing Odisha’s medical education and healthcare landscape, Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Dr. Mukesh Mahaling, met with Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda in New Delhi today.
Under the guidance of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, the Odisha delegation urged the issuance of a Letter of Permission (LoP) to admit 200 MBBS students—100 each at Pabitra Mohan Pradhan Medical College (PMPMC), Talcher, and Government Medical College (GMC), Phulbani—for the 2025-26 academic session.
The meeting, attended by Odisha’s Minister of Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water, Rabi Narayan Naik, and MPs- Bhartruhari Mahtab (Cuttack), Pradeep Purohit (Bargarh), and Sukanta Kumar Panigrahi (Kandhamal), also focused on strengthening healthcare services across the state.
Dr. Mahaling emphasised the urgent need for NMC approval to operationalise these new institutions, which are poised to address the growing demand for medical professionals in Odisha.
PMPMC, Talcher, and GMC, Phulbani, are recently established government medical colleges designed to elevate the state’s medical education capacity. Applications for the LoP were submitted to the National Medical Commission (NMC) on January 18, 2025, followed by thorough inspections on May 28 for GMC, Phulbani, and June 23 for PMPMC, Talcher.
The state government has allocated substantial budgetary grants to ensure both colleges meet NMC standards, equipping them with modern facilities to deliver quality education. If approved, these colleges will increase Odisha’s government medical colleges from 14 to 16, boosting the total MBBS seats in government institutions to 1,800.
This expansion is expected to enhance access to medical education and improve healthcare delivery, particularly in underserved regions like Talcher and Phulbani.
The push for these new colleges aligns with Odisha’s broader vision of becoming a hub for medical education and healthcare innovation.
