Odisha expands postgraduate medical education with 318 additional seats

Odisha has received approval for 318 additional postgraduate medical seats across government medical colleges and other institutions, taking the state's total PG medical seat count from 620 to 938.

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has cleared the additional seats across 14 medical departments.

The approval will also enable five newly established government medical colleges to introduce postgraduate medical programs, with 153 seats sanctioned across different specialties.

According to officials, the expansion is expected to strengthen postgraduate medical education and improve the availability of specialist doctors across different regions of Odisha.

NMC approves additional PG medical seats: College-wise allocation

Dharanidhar Medical College and Hospital in Keonjhar has received approval for 44 postgraduate seats across 10 departments. Government Medical College and Hospital in Sundargarh has been allotted 22 seats across eight departments.

Similarly, SLN Medical College and Hospital in Koraput has received 28 seats covering nine departments. Pabitra Mohan Pradhan Government Medical College and Hospital in Talcher has been sanctioned 32 seats across 10 departments.

Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati Government Medical College and Hospital in Phulbani has received approval for 27 postgraduate seats across eight departments.

The expansion has also increased the existing postgraduate intake at several medical institutions in the state. Pandit Raghunath Murmu Medical College and Hospital in Baripada has seen its seat count rise from 20 to 53.

Bhima Bhoi Medical College and Hospital in Balangir now has 54 postgraduate seats, compared with the earlier intake of 10. At Fakir Mohan Medical College and Hospital in Balasore, the number of seats has increased from eight to 54.

In Bhubaneswar, PGIMER and Capital Hospital have received 11 additional postgraduate seats. SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack has been allotted 17 more seats.

Acharya Harihar Post Graduate Institute of Cancer has received approval for three additional seats, while VIMSAR in Burla has been sanctioned 11 more postgraduate seats.

PG medical seats approved across 14 departments

The additional postgraduate seats will be distributed across 14 medical specialties, covering both clinical and non-clinical disciplines.

The departments included in the NMC approval are:

• Anatomy
• Anaesthesiology
• Biochemistry
• Community Medicine
• Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT)
• General Medicine
• General Surgery
• Microbiology
• Obstetrics and Gynaecology
• Orthopaedics
• Paediatrics
• Pathology
• Psychiatry
• Respiratory Medicine

The expansion will increase postgraduate training opportunities in these specialties and enable more medical graduates to pursue advanced medical education within the state.

Odisha health minister welcomes NMC approval

Odisha Health and Family Welfare Minister Mukesh Mahaling described the approval as an important development for medical education and healthcare infrastructure in the state.

“With the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the leadership of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, a new chapter has been added to the health and medical education sector in Odisha,” Mahaling said.

He also expressed gratitude to Union Health Minister J P Nadda and the National Medical Commission for approving the additional postgraduate seats.

Mahaling said the increase in the total number of seats from 620 to 938 represented more than an expansion of medical education. According to him, the decision would contribute to developing a larger pool of trained doctors and medical specialists in Odisha.

Five government medical colleges to introduce PG courses

The health minister said the introduction of postgraduate medical programs in Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Koraput, Talcher, and Phulbani would support more balanced regional development.

He added that the expansion would help decentralize healthcare services by strengthening medical education facilities outside major urban centers.

The availability of postgraduate courses at these five government medical colleges is also expected to improve the distribution of specialist doctors across the state.

This could help residents access advanced medical treatment closer to their homes instead of traveling to larger cities for specialized healthcare.

With the latest NMC approval, Odisha's postgraduate medical education capacity will increase to 938 seats from the earlier 620.

The expansion includes 153 seats for starting postgraduate courses at five government medical colleges and additional seats at existing medical institutions across the state.