A major boost to healthcare and medical education in Assam came on Sunday with the inauguration of the Pragjyotishpur Medical College and Hospital in Panikhaiti on the outskirts of Guwahati.
The new medical institution was inaugurated during a programme attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma described the day as an important milestone for the state’s healthcare sector. He said the hospital has been built with an investment of around Rs 675 crore and will significantly strengthen medical services in the region.
With the opening of the new facility, the number of medical colleges in Guwahati has now increased to three, marking a major expansion in the city’s medical education infrastructure.
The Chief Minister Sarma also recalled how the government began exploring ways to increase medical education capacity after the outbreak of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. During the conflict, many Indian students studying medicine in Ukraine were forced to return home, highlighting the need for more medical seats within the country.
CM Sarma said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had then envisioned creating around one lakh MBBS seats across India to accommodate aspiring medical students. He added that Union Minister Piyush Goyal later facilitated discussions with the Damani family, who agreed to construct the academic building of the medical college at their own expense in support of the initiative.
According to the Chief Minister Sarma, the academic infrastructure of the institution has been developed with the support of the Damani family, aligning with the Centre’s vision of expanding medical education facilities in the country.
CM Sarma also highlighted progress in cancer treatment facilities in the state, stating that the number of cancer hospitals in Assam has now increased to twelve. To further strengthen specialised treatment, the government is planning to bring a proton beam therapy machine to Assam, a highly advanced technology used in cancer care. The equipment is expected to cost between Rs 400 crore and Rs 500 crore.
The Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, noted that Assam currently has around 2,000 MBBS seats, all of which are fully occupied, reflecting the growing demand for medical education in the state.
He further said that healthcare services at the new hospital will begin soon after the opening of the facility. The institution is also expected to play a greater role in the future, particularly when the old building of Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) undergoes reconstruction.