New faculty, temporary facilities: How Ladakh is preparing its first medical college

Ladakh is set to get its first government medical college in Leh in the 2027-28 academic year after the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) approved its operationalization, paving the way for phased recruitment of faculty and support staff.

The approval follows a request by Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena for a one-time relaxation of the requirement that at least 80% of the college's infrastructure be completed before recruitment begins. The ministry has allowed the administration to proceed with appointments while construction continues.

The decision is expected to expand access to medical education for students in the Union Territory and strengthen its healthcare system. The college is also expected to improve the availability of trained medical professionals in a region where difficult terrain and climatic conditions can limit access to specialized medical services.

The approval allows the Ladakh administration to begin recruitment against 103 sanctioned regular posts in phases, according to academic requirements. The appointments will be made in accordance with the approved recruitment rules and the institution's staffing needs.

Recruitment to begin in phases from 2027-28

On July 13, 2026, Saxena wrote to Union Health and Family Welfare Minister J P Nadda seeking an exemption from the infrastructure completion requirement. The request aimed to ensure that preparations for the college's opening could begin on time, even as its permanent academic facilities were being built.

The ministry approved the proposal after considering the request and the urgency of starting academic activities as scheduled. In a communication dated Oct 13, 2026, it conveyed the decision to the commissioner-cum-secretary of Ladakh's Health and Medical Education Department.

The 103 posts had been sanctioned through a Department of Expenditure note dated Nov 27, 2024. Their recruitment will be staggered from the 2027-28 academic year onward, based on academic requirements identified by the Union Territory administration.

According to the ministry's communication, the Department of Expenditure examined and approved the proposal subject to specified conditions. The administration must fill all positions on a regular basis and follow the approved recruitment rules.

The ministry has also directed the administration to establish reasonable timelines for completing the permanent infrastructure. It must inform the Department of Expenditure when the college transitions to its dedicated campus.

Temporary academic block and hostel identified

While construction continues, the administration has identified two newly constructed buildings for temporary use as the college's academic block and students' hostel. These arrangements will remain in place until the permanent facilities are ready.

The existing 200-bed Sonam Norboo Memorial (SNM) Hospital in Leh will provide clinical training for the first batch of MBBS students. The hospital is supported by around 60 experienced doctors, offering an existing clinical facility for the proposed medical college.

The interim arrangements must comply with conditions stipulated by the Department of Expenditure. Once the dedicated infrastructure at Stipuk Pharka is completed, the college must shift its facilities and operations to the permanent campus.

LG welcomes approval, thanks Union government

Saxena welcomed the ministry's decision and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Health Minister Nadda for supporting the development of medical education and healthcare in Ladakh.

“I am grateful to the PM Modi and Health Minister Nadda for their continued support towards strengthening healthcare and medical education in Ladakh. This approval will enable us to begin the process of building the required academic team in a phased manner, in line with the academic needs,” he said.

He said the administration would work to ensure that the college is prepared to begin academic activities in the 2027-28 session.

“We will work to ensure that all necessary arrangements are made for the commencement of the Medical College in the academic year 2027–28,” Saxena said.

The Lieutenant Governor's request sought to prevent recruitment delays caused by the infrastructure completion condition. The ministry's approval now allows preparatory staffing to proceed alongside construction, with the aim of keeping the proposed opening on schedule.

The Government Medical College in Leh is expected to create more opportunities for students seeking medical education closer to home while supporting the long-term development of healthcare services across the Union Territory.