In a major push to bolster public services, the Odisha government has announced a plan to fill 1.5 lakh vacant government positions over the next five years, with special emphasis on the healthcare sector.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Mukesh Mahaling, speaking at the CII-Odisha Healthcare Summit 2025 in Bhubaneswar, confirmed that over 5,000 doctors, nurses, and paramedics will be recruited in 2025 alone. The move comes amid persistent concerns over staff shortages, with over 5,800 doctor posts reportedly vacant in public hospitals across the state.
To further strengthen medical education and rural healthcare access, Odisha has approved the establishment of nine new medical colleges, including four MBBS colleges (in Jagatsinghpur, Bhadrak, Dhenkanal, and Nabarangpur), four dental colleges (in Burla, Berhampur, Keonjhar, and Bolangir), and one Ayurvedic college in Mayurbhanj. Additionally, new medical colleges in Talcher and Phulbani, each with an intake of 100 MBBS students, will commence operations this year. These developments are part of the state’s 2025–26 budget plan to improve the doctor-patient ratio and enhance healthcare availability in underserved areas.
Bhadrak district, in particular, is expected to see a major transformation, with not only a government medical college and public university on the cards but also industrial investments exceeding Rs 6,500 crore.
