Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha emphasized the government’s top priority on strengthening healthcare infrastructure, improving medical education, and expanding welfare schemes across the state. New hospitals, MoU with AIIMS, and upgraded facilities highlight Tripura’s ongoing healthcare transformation.
Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha on Saturday reaffirmed his government’s commitment to improving healthcare facilities across the state, saying that the strengthening of health infrastructure and services remains a top priority for his administration.
Speaking at the 25th annual conference of the Tripura branch of the Association of Physicians of India (API) in Agartala, CM Saha emphasized that the state government is determined to enhance not only the two major hospitals but also district and sub-divisional healthcare centres to ensure equitable medical services for all citizens.
“Tripura’s healthcare system is expanding rapidly. We are giving equal importance to upgrading medical infrastructure in urban and rural areas. Our aim is to make healthcare more accessible and efficient for every citizen,” said Dr. Saha, who also holds the Health and Family Welfare portfolio.
Highlighting the role of professional medical associations, he noted that conferences like the API annual meet are crucial platforms where physicians share their experiences, discuss challenges, and exchange innovative ideas that ultimately improve patient care. “Such conferences should not only end with discussions but also lead to tangible outcomes that contribute to society’s health development,” he added.
Expanding Medical Education and Infrastructure
The Chief Minister shared that Tripura currently has three medical colleges offering around 400 MBBS seats, and one dental college with 63 seats. To further boost medical education and healthcare access, the state recently laid the foundation stone of a ₹900-crore private super-speciality hospital at RK Nagar, near Agartala. The hospital will include a medical college aimed at fostering advanced healthcare training and reducing patient dependency on facilities outside the state.
Saha, himself a dental surgeon, also revealed a significant milestone — five successful kidney transplant surgeries have already been completed in Tripura, marking an important achievement in the state’s medical history.
Addressing Shortage of Healthcare Professionals
To combat the shortage of medical professionals, the Chief Minister announced that the government has made additional faculty appointments and established new institutions offering B.Sc Nursing, ANM, GNM, Pharmacist, and other allied health courses. These steps, he said, are designed to ensure a steady pipeline of trained healthcare workers capable of meeting the state’s growing healthcare demands.
“Despite having advanced facilities, administrative lapses sometimes affect the functioning of our main referral hospital — Govind Ballabh Pant (GBP) Hospital,” Saha admitted candidly. “To address this, we have already signed an MoU with AIIMS, New Delhi, to enhance patient care, hospital management, and overall service delivery.”
Strengthening Welfare Schemes and Public Health
Dr. Saha also detailed the government’s financial initiatives under national and state health welfare schemes. “Under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), around ₹250 crore has been spent for the health welfare of people, and another ₹26 crore under the Chief Minister’s Jan Arogya Yojana (CMJAY),” he said.
Tripura has also developed a robust network of 1,100 Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) spread across the state, ensuring that essential healthcare services reach the grassroots level. “Work on building a state-of-the-art eye hospital on the vacant land adjacent to the ILS (Indira Gandhi Memorial) Hospital will begin soon,” he added.
Economic and Social Growth
In addition to healthcare progress, CM Saha highlighted Tripura’s broader development trajectory. He stated that Tripura currently ranks as the second-best state in the Northeast in terms of per capita income and Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) — a sign of the state’s steady economic growth under the current administration.
The conference, organized by the Tripura branch of the Association of Physicians of India, saw the presence of several eminent medical professionals, including Dr. Soumen Chowdhury (Secretary, API Tripura), Prof. (Dr.) Jyotirmoy Pal (National President, API), Prof. (Dr.) Tapan Majumdar (Vice Principal, AGMC), Prof. (Dr.) H. P. Sharma (Director of Medical Education), Prof. (Dr.) Pradip Bhowmik, and Prof. (Dr.) Arindam Dutta, the State President of API.
| Also Read: Tripura secures ₹1,400-Crore World Bank Loan for Tribal Growth |
Concluding his address, CM Saha reaffirmed his government’s vision of ensuring that every citizen, regardless of region or income, receives quality and affordable healthcare. “Tripura’s future lies in strong health infrastructure, capable professionals, and efficient service delivery. Our efforts are directed toward building a healthier and more prosperous state,” he said.
