Odisha PG medical seats increase from 620 to 938; 5 new colleges to introduce courses

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has approved 318 additional postgraduate (PG) medical seats across 14 departments in five government medical colleges and other medical institutions in Odisha. With the latest approval, the total number of PG medical seats in the state has increased from 620 to 938.

Five new government medical colleges will now introduce postgraduate courses, with 153 seats sanctioned across various departments. 44 seats across 10 departments will be added to Dharanidhar Medical College and Hospital in Keonjhar. Government Medical College and Hospital in Sundargarh has been allotted 22 seats across eight departments.

Keonjhar, Koraput, Talcher colleges get new seats

SLN Medical College and Hospital in Koraput has received approval for 28 seats across nine departments, while Pabitra Mohan Pradhan Government Medical College and Hospital in Talcher has been sanctioned 32 seats across 10 departments. Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati Government Medical College and Hospital in Phulbani has received approval for 27 seats across eight departments.

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The number of PG seats at Pandit Raghunath Murmu Medical College and Hospital in Baripada has increased from 20 to 53. Bhima Bhoi Medical College and Hospital in Balangir has also witnessed an increase, with its PG seat count rising from 10 to 54, the statement said.

At Fakir Mohan Medical College and Hospital in Balasore, the number of PG seats has increased from eight to 54. PGIMER and Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar have received 11 additional seats, while SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack has been allotted 17 more seats. Acharya Harihar Post Graduate Institute of Cancer has received three additional seats, while VIMSAR, Burla, has been allotted 11 more seats.

PG seat distribution

The additional PG seats will be distributed across 14 departments, including Anatomy, Anaesthesiology, Biochemistry, Community Medicine, ENT, General Medicine, General Surgery, Microbiology, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Orthopaedics, Paediatrics, Pathology, Psychiatry and Respiratory Medicine.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Mukesh Mahaling said the development marked a significant step forward for medical education and healthcare in Odisha. "With the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the leadership of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, a new chapter has been added to the health and medical education sector in Odisha," he said.

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Thanking Union Health Minister J P Nadda and the NMC, Mahaling said the increase in PG medical seats from 620 to 938 was not merely an expansion of medical education but also a step towards producing more skilled doctors and specialists in the state. He further said that the introduction of postgraduate medical education in regions such as Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Koraput, Talcher and Phulbani would promote balanced regional development and decentralisation of healthcare.

The move would also improve the availability of specialist doctors and help people access advanced healthcare services closer to their homes, the minister added.

(With PTI inputs)