Tripura CM Saha announced plans to begin heart transplants at AGMC and GB Pant Hospital. Talks with AIIMS and a MoU with Mohan Foundation are underway. Super-specialty courses, more MBBS seats, and telemedicine are also in the pipeline to strengthen Tripura’s healthcare system.
In a move aimed at bolstering Tripura’s healthcare infrastructure, Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha announced that the state government is planning to initiate heart transplants at Agartala Government Medical College (AGMC) and Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital (GBP Hospital). Speaking at the 21st Foundation Day celebration of AGMC and GBP Hospital, the Chief Minister revealed that discussions with AIIMS, New Delhi are already underway, and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed with the Mohan Foundation to facilitate organ transplant procedures.
CM Saha, who also holds the Health and Family Welfare portfolio, said that the plan is not just to introduce heart transplants, but also liver transplants in the near future. He highlighted the success of three kidney transplants already performed at AGMC, signalling a new era in the state’s medical capabilities.
“We have signed a MoU with the Mohan Foundation and held talks with AIIMS to begin heart and liver transplants. Our goal is to offer these advanced procedures within Tripura so that patients don’t have to travel to other states,” said Dr. Saha, who is also a dental surgeon by profession.
He further stated that the state government is also focused on expanding educational and infrastructure capacities at AGMC and GBP Hospital. Plans are in motion to introduce super-specialty courses at AGMC to enhance post-graduate medical education.
“Tripura had limited MBBS seats earlier, but now the number has increased significantly. Today, there are approximately 400 MBBS seats across three medical colleges—AGMC, Tripura Medical College (TMC), and Tripura Shantiniketan Medical College (TSMC),” he informed.
Highlighting improvements in dental education, CM Saha said that the state’s Government Dental College, which started with 50 BDS seats, now has 63. AGMC alone has received approval from the National Medical Commission (NMC) for 150 MBBS seats for the 2025–26 academic year. Of these, 118 are reserved for Tripura students, 22 for central nominees, and 10 for students from other northeastern states.
At present, around 525 students are studying MBBS at AGMC. Since its inception in 2005, and with its first batch graduating in 2010, the college has produced 1,484 MBBS graduates, of whom 1,270 are from Tripura. The Chief Minister praised the efforts of past and present faculty, staff, and administrators in building AGMC’s national reputation.
“When rural areas faced a shortage of doctors, we deployed MBBS graduates from AGMC and TMC, which significantly contributed to strengthening healthcare services in those regions,” said the Chief Minister. He added that around 391 students have completed postgraduate degrees from AGMC over the past nine years.
However, CM Saha acknowledged the current challenges, including the shortage of hospital beds. GBP Hospital, which earlier had 1,413 beds, currently operates with 727 beds. “We have plans to add another 100 beds soon to meet patient needs,” he said.
Another key initiative highlighted was the development of telemedicine services in the state. Dr. Saha stated that official processes have already been initiated to launch telemedicine services, ensuring remote areas gain better access to specialist consultations and timely treatment.
“In recent years, the faith of the people in AGMC and GBP Hospital has grown immensely. Our goal is to enhance this further by introducing state-of-the-art medical facilities and education,” he said.
The Chief Minister also noted that cardiac care centers have been set up across most districts in the state and that the remaining work is nearing completion. This is part of a broader plan to decentralize quality healthcare delivery across Tripura.
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The announcements made during the Foundation Day celebrations mark a major leap in Tripura’s ongoing efforts to transform its medical education and healthcare systems, aligning with national standards and expanding accessibility for its citizens.
