What Did Tripura CM Discuss with JP Nadda Regarding Health Infrastructure?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Meeting on health infrastructure held between CM Saha and Minister Nadda.
- Proposal for a new medical college in Dhalai district.
- Discussion on establishing a Tertiary Ophthalmology Hospital.
- Request for funds for advanced medical equipment.
- Emphasis on enhancing Ayushman Bharat funding.
Agartala, Oct 14 (NationPress) Manik Saha, the Chief Minister of Tripura, met with J.P. Nadda, the Union Health and Family Welfare Minister, in New Delhi on Tuesday to discuss vital issues concerning health infrastructure and manpower. The meeting included plans for establishing a new medical college within the state, according to an official announcement.
A senior official from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) reported that Saha presented Nadda with the state’s proposal to create a new medical college at Kulai in the Dhalai district, recognized as an aspirational district, through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP).
Saha, also responsible for the Health and Family Welfare portfolio, further discussed the need for a Tertiary Ophthalmology Hospital in Agartala and the establishment of an Immunology Lab dedicated to organ transplant services at the government-operated Agartala Government Medical College (AGMC) and Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital.
The Chief Minister urged Nadda, who is also the National President of the BJP, to allocate funds for acquiring advanced medical equipment for the Super Speciality Block at AGMC.
Saha also requested additional funding for Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PMJAY) to address pending financial claims.
Currently, Tripura is home to three medical colleges: Agartala Government Medical College (AGMC), Tripura Medical College (TMC), and Tripura Santiniketan Medical College (TSMC).
While TSMC is a private institution, TMC is managed by a state government-formed society. Saha previously highlighted the scarcity of MBBS seats in Tripura’s medical colleges, which has now increased to approximately 400 across the three colleges.
“In the past, there was only one seat available for BDS. Now, we have a Government Dental College that started with 50 seats and has expanded to 63. We are actively working to increase the capacity of AGMC. For the academic year 2025–26, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has approved 150 seats, with 118 allocated for Tripura students, 22 for central government nominees, and 10 for the Northeast region,” stated Saha, who is a dental surgeon by profession.
Currently, around 525 students from various academic years are enrolled in MBBS programs at AGMC.