Assam: More medical colleges a must to tackle dearth of doctors, says CM Himanta

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI: Assam produces around 1,600 doctors annually, and the state has set its target to produce around 4,000 doctors yearly by 2030.

Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma said this at the ceremonial distribution of appointment letters to 400 medical and health officers here today.

The Chief Minister said, “In 2006, the health sector in Assam was at its nadir. The state could then produce only 170 doctors yearly. The maternal mortality rate (MMR) was 480 per lakh. However, in the past few years, the health sector started its transformation journey. Now, the 13 medical colleges in the state produce around 1,600 doctors yearly. We’ve set the target of setting up a total of 29 medical colleges by 2030 to produce around 4,000 doctors annually. We need more medical colleges to tackle the problems arising out of the dearth of doctors. Compared to 2006, the MMR rate has been reduced to 167 from 480 per lakh. We hope to maintain the national level in MMR.”

The Chief Minister said, “When we started the fourth medical college in Jorhat, we had to face severe diatribe from various corners. We had to proceed defying all those criticisms, as we were determined to balance the demand and supply of doctors in the state. And now, the public has realized as to why we increased the number of medical colleges in the state. Now, the public can see doctors in rural hospitals also.”

The Chief Minister said that technology has brought a paradigm shift in healthcare by shrugging off the traditional means. “I appeal to the doctors to update themselves with the new technology. Robotic surgery is a practice now. Artificial intelligence plays a major role. The doctor-patient interaction has got a boost through mobile apps in most of the private hospitals. We need private hospitals, but they cannot be alternatives to the government hospitals. We’ve received several requests for the setting up of private medical colleges in the state. However, until hitting the target of 29 medical colleges in the state, we won’t allow that,” he said.

The Chief Minister further said, “We need to provide more facilities to the government doctors. They should get facilities on a par with the ones working in private hospitals. It’s a competition. Without adequate facilities, we won’t be able to retain doctors.”

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