Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Saturday said the state government is working to transform Agartala Government Medical College (AGMC) and Govind Ballabh Pant (GBP) Hospital into a leading centre for medical education, research and super-speciality healthcare in Northeast India, while further strengthening the state's healthcare system.
The Chief Minister, who also holds the Health and Family Welfare portfolio, made the remarks while addressing the 22nd Foundation Day celebrations of AGMC and GBP Hospital, the state's first government medical college.
Speaking at the event, Saha said that establishing a government medical college in Tripura was once considered a distant dream. He noted that AGMC has since emerged as one of the region's key medical institutions, contributing significantly to healthcare delivery, medical education, research and super-speciality services.
He emphasised that medical institutions are not just centres for treating diseases but also play a vital role in humanitarian service, research, knowledge creation and the promotion of human values.
Highlighting improvements in medical education, Saha said MBBS seats in government medical colleges have increased considerably over the years. He added that the expansion of seats at AGMC, the strengthening of the Government Dental College, the growth of postgraduate medical education and the introduction of specialised courses have created greater opportunities for aspiring doctors.
The Chief Minister said the state has established a government dental college and continues to expand its infrastructure. He also said work on setting up an independent Health University is progressing rapidly.
According to Saha, the proposed Health University will further strengthen medical education, research and the training of skilled healthcare professionals in Tripura.
Commending doctors and healthcare workers, he said that patients earlier had to travel outside the state even for relatively less complicated procedures. Today, with improved expertise and modern medical technology, AGMC and GBP Hospital are successfully performing several complex surgeries, significantly reducing referrals to hospitals outside Tripura.
He also revealed that nine successful kidney transplant surgeries have already been performed in the state and that the government is working towards introducing liver and heart transplant facilities in the coming years.
Saha said both the Central and state governments are jointly working to strengthen healthcare infrastructure, expand medical education and improve access to modern healthcare services.
He added that schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), Mukhyamantri Jan Arogya Yojana, Ayushman Bharat and Mukhyamantri Sarvajan Arogya Abhiyan are helping improve healthcare access for the people.
The Chief Minister further said that around 81.7 per cent of children were covered under the complete immunisation programme during April-May of the 2026-27 financial year, reflecting strong public health performance. He also highlighted the introduction of subsidised meals for attendants of patients at GBP Hospital for Rs 10 and said construction of a Bharat Mata Canteen and a modern night shelter is progressing rapidly.
With Inputs From IANS
