Sarma underscored the significance of the day, marking a pivotal moment in Assam’s medical education landscape with the inauguration of its 14th medical college and hospital. Reflecting on the journey from just three medical colleges in 2006, he recalled the three-decade wait for the fourth. The establishment of colleges in Tezpur, Jorhat, and Barpeta laid the foundation for a vision of one medical college per district, with Assam now having 13 medical colleges recognised by the Indian Medical Council, with 1,700 students studying across these institutions. With plans for Bongaigaon, Biswanath, Golaghat, Charaideo, and Morigaon, the state aims for 24 colleges by 2029.
Additionally, with upcoming budgetary allocations for new institutions in Darrang, Hojai, and Hailakandi, the state continues its commitment to building a robust healthcare network to serve its 30,000 villages. He credited the rapid progress to the support of citizens and collaboration with AIIMS and IIT Guwahati, notably in developing a super-speciality hospital. The Pragjyotishpur Medical College, constructed at a cost of Rs 496 crores, is designed to serve Guwahati’s 25 lakh residents. As the transformation of the M.M.C. hospital nears completion, the inauguration of a new super-speciality hospital will further enhance the city’s healthcare infrastructure.
Sarma highlighted the long-standing challenges in managing human resources, particularly with regard to staff leave, employment matters, and administrative tasks, as the state witnessed a significant rise in medical colleges. To address these issues, the government developed a Human Resource Management System (HRMS) leveraging information technology to streamline data collection and enable timely decision-making. He announced the successful launch of the Rs 2.5 crore HRMS software, tailored for the employees of Assam’s medical colleges. He also shared the opening of a facilitation centre at the Assam Medical College in Dibrugarh, where dedicated volunteers would assist and guide tea garden workers in availing themselves of essential medical services, such as blood banks, CT scans, and more. Looking ahead, he affirmed that the HRMS system would soon be expanded to other medical colleges across the state, reinforcing Assam’s commitment to integrating technology for efficient healthcare administration.
The state government, in collaboration with the Tata Trust, has established the Assam Cancer Care Foundation, a key milestone in the battle against cancer. With 17 cancer care institutions now operational, the initiative has drastically improved access to treatment. The Assam Cancer Care Foundation’s focus on early detection screenings and community outreach has culminated in the launch of a massive cancer screening programme for 1 crore people, underscoring Assam’s resolute commitment to accessible cancer care.The CM underscored that with the inauguration of the Pragjyotishpur Medical College and Hospital today and the planned establishment of additional medical colleges by 2029, Assam is poised to emerge as a leader in healthcare. He attributed this significant advancement to the forward-thinking initiatives of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose vision has been instrumental in shaping the state’s progress.Sarma also inaugurated the upgradation work of Assam Electronics & Semiconductor Logistics Park in Jagiroad . Spanning 600+ bighas, the park will feature KVs, hospitals & starred hotels, paving the way for a thriving industrial hub.
