Himachal Gets 320 New PG Medical Seats : Nadda
Medical education in Himachal Pradesh is set for a significant expansion, with the Centre approving 320 additional postgraduate medical seats across six government medical colleges, along with a grant of around ₹415 crore for the initiative.
Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda announced the approval on Saturday, describing it as an important step towards expanding opportunities for medical students while strengthening specialised healthcare services in the hill state.
According to Nadda, the Himachal allocation is part of the Central Government’s broader plan to create 10,000 additional medical seats across India over the next five years, with an estimated investment of ₹15,000 crore.
IGMC Shimla Gets the Highest Allocation
Of the 320 new PG seats, Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), Shimla, will receive 91, the highest among the six institutions.
Government medical colleges in Hamirpur and Tanda will get 57 seats each, while Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Government Medical College at Nerchowk in Mandi has been allocated 55 seats. Nahan Medical College will receive 32 seats and Chamba 28.
The expansion is expected to strengthen postgraduate medical training in specialities including surgery, orthopaedics, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics and oncology.
Nadda said the proposal for the additional seats was received from the Himachal Pradesh government on 23 June. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu also discussed the matter with him during the AIIMS Bilaspur convocation on 6 October. The Centre has now approved all 320 seats proposed by the state.
More Specialists, Better Healthcare Access
The additional seats will provide more opportunities for doctors seeking postgraduate medical education in Himachal while also helping government medical colleges expand their pool of specialists.
For patients, a stronger specialist workforce could improve access to advanced treatment within the state and reduce the need to travel outside Himachal for certain medical services.
Nadda urged the state government to quickly complete the necessary administrative formalities so that the new seats can become operational without unnecessary delay.
He also called for faster progress on other centrally supported healthcare projects in Himachal, particularly the construction of critical care blocks and public health laboratories, saying these facilities are important for strengthening the state’s ability to handle medical emergencies and wider public health challenges.
Editing note: I sharpened the headline, made the opening more news-driven, broke up dense paragraphs and brought the college-wise seat allocation and likely healthcare impact forward for easier reading.