Uttarakhand opens five government medical colleges in 24 years, expands healthcare access

NEW DELHI: Over its 24-year journey as a state, Uttarakhand has achieved substantial progress in healthcare, including the establishment of five government medical colleges—a notable improvement given that none existed at the time of the state’s formation. In tandem, the state has implemented the Ayushman Card scheme , enabling free medical treatment up to Rs 5 lakh for eligible residents.

Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s government has prioritised affordable, high-quality healthcare, focusing on opening new hospitals and upgrading existing facilities to expand access for all. The Ayushman scheme, in particular, has been a cornerstone of healthcare for Uttarakhand residents. The programme provides Rs 5 lakh in annual coverage for 2.3 million families in the state, accepted at over 22,000 recognised government and private hospitals nationwide. This year, over 960,000 senior citizens in Uttarakhand aged 70 and above will also receive an additional Rs 5 lakh under the scheme, ensuring younger family members’ treatment limits remain unaffected.

New medical colleges established in three years

During chief minister Dhami’s three-year tenure, Uttarakhand has added two new government medical colleges. Almora Medical College began operations in 2022, while Haridwar Medical College is set to open this academic session. With 200 MBBS seats between them, the total number of first-year MBBS seats in the state has now reached 625, addressing a key area of healthcare shortage. Almora’s college began classes in 2022, while Haridwar Medical College, completed this year, has received approval for 100 seats in the 2024-25 academic session. Further expansion efforts are underway with plans for medical colleges in Pithoragarh and Rudrapur.

Cancer care improvements

In a bid to strengthen specialised healthcare, the state has begun establishing cancer care units across five districts. Until recently, Haldwani and Doon Medical College were the only government facilities offering cancer care, leaving many patients without access to necessary treatment within the state. A new 300-bed cancer hospital is also under construction in Harrawala, Dehradun, and will be operated on a public-private partnership (PPP) model to broaden access to cancer care in Uttarakhand.

“Our performance on the economic front has been encouraging. The per capita income in the state has increased 17 times. We have set a goal to double the state’s GSDP in the next five years. We are steadily progressing in this direction,” said chief minister Dhami, highlighting the government’s focus on economic and infrastructural growth alongside healthcare expansion.