Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Monday, 29 June announced that the Centre will supply a range of advanced medical equipment to the northeastern state — including 48 AI-enabled portable handheld X-ray machines — under the Prime Minister's Fund, following the signing of a formal agreement in New Delhi. The move is aimed at significantly upgrading diagnostic infrastructure across Tripura's district hospitals.

MoU Signed Between Centre and Tripura

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Tripura Health and Family Welfare Department in New Delhi on 29 June, covering the supply, installation, and operationalisation of the equipment. Chief Minister Saha, who also holds the Health and Family Welfare portfolio, shared the development on social media.

Beyond the 48 AI-enabled portable handheld X-ray devices, the package includes three Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines and three Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (DBT) mammography systems — diagnostic tools that remain scarce in many parts of India's Northeast.

Where the Equipment Will Be Installed

According to Saha, the advanced equipment will be deployed at district hospitals in Dhalai, North Tripura, and Gomati districts. The installations are intended to improve access to quality diagnostic services in areas that have historically had limited specialist healthcare facilities.

"These advanced medical equipment will be installed at district hospitals in Dhalai, North Tripura and Gomati districts, significantly strengthening healthcare delivery and improving access to quality diagnostic services across the state," Saha said.

He added: "I am grateful to Prime Minister Modi and Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda for their continued support in upgrading Tripura's healthcare infrastructure."

Ayurvedic Medical College Approved at Udaipur

In a separate but related development, the Union Ministry of AYUSH earlier this month approved the establishment of the Tripura Government Ayurvedic Medical College and Hospital at Udaipur in Gomati district, with an intake capacity of 60 undergraduate seats from the academic session 2026-27.

Saha announced the approval in a post on social media platform X, quoting a communication from the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) under the AYUSH Ministry. In a letter addressed to Tripura Health and Family Welfare Secretary Kiran Gitte, Dr Mukul Patel, President of the Medical Assessment and Rating Board for Indian System of Medicine under the NCISM, confirmed that the Commission had accepted the state's proposal.

The new institution will offer the Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) course, subject to the fulfilment of prescribed norms and statutory provisions. Saha said the college would strengthen Ayurvedic education, promote the Indian system of medicine, and create fresh opportunities for students in the state.

Tripura's Existing Medical Education Landscape

Tripura currently has three medical colleges with approximately 550 MBBS seats and nearly 200 postgraduate medical seats. These include the state-run Agartala Government Medical College and Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital, the society-managed Tripura Medical College and Dr B.R. Ambedkar Memorial Teaching Hospital, and the privately managed Tripura Santiniketan Medical College and Hospital. The state also operates a government dental college with an annual intake of 63 students.

With the addition of the Ayurvedic college and the incoming diagnostic equipment, Tripura's healthcare expansion marks one of the more comprehensive upgrades to the state's medical infrastructure in recent years. The next milestones will be the physical installation of the equipment at the three district hospitals and the formal launch of the BAMS programme from 2026-27.