Agartala, Aug 25 (IANS) Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Tuesday said Tripura Medical College is a key pillar of the state’s healthcare infrastructure and that public confidence in the institution is growing day by day.
“Tripura Medical College is continuously striving to provide healthcare services at par with the state’s main referral hospital, GBP Hospital,” he said.
The Chief Minister, while inaugurating a programme organised to mark the 21st Foundation Day of Tripura Medical College and Dr B.R. Ambedkar Teaching Hospital on the outskirts of the city, said that health infrastructure is expanding rapidly in Tripura. At the start of the programme, he inaugurated a blood donation camp and a Nature‑cum‑Smart Lecture Hall in the college’s academic building.
Tripura Medical College & Dr B.R. Ambedkar Memorial Teaching Hospital is a government‑backed medical institution run by a society. Saha, himself a dental surgeon, was a professor at the medical college before becoming Chief Minister in May 2022.
Speaking at the event, the Chief Minister expressed his nostalgic association with Tripura Medical College and said that the institution, which started its journey in 2005, has become one of the most trusted centres for medical services among the common people of the state. He recalled the hospital’s early days and shared memories of its initial period with those present.
Saha, who also holds the Health portfolio, said that from August 2025 to July this year, around 3.65 lakh people availed services at the Out‑Patient Department (OPD) of Tripura Medical College. During the period, the hospital performed 4,831 major and 18,292 minor surgeries. Dialysis services were provided to 2,536 people, while 122 patients underwent colonoscopy. “These statistics indicate the important role being played by this hospital in providing healthcare services to the people of the state,” he said.
The Chief Minister said that the college currently has 150 MBBS seats and 18 postgraduate (PG) seats. “This number of seats will increase further in the coming days. The state established a dental college during the present government’s tenure. The teaching of Homeopathic and Ayurvedic Medical Colleges will also commence soon,” Saha said.
He said that the state government has accorded the highest priority to strengthening the healthcare system and expanding medical infrastructure across Tripura. “The number of beds at GBP Hospital has been increased, separate infrastructure has been created for the treatment of mothers and children, and free‑time OPDs have been introduced at the main and district hospitals across the state. Agartala Civil Hospital has also been launched recently,” he said.
Saha further said that the foundation stone was laid on Monday to set up a private medical college at Dhalai district headquarters in Ambassa. “The foundation stone has also been laid for setting up a tertiary eye hospital adjacent to ILS Hospital. All these initiatives reflect that the state is steadily progressing towards becoming a healthcare hub in the coming days,” he said.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the significant work Tripura Medical College is undertaking in medical education and healthcare services.
Health Department Secretary Kiran Gitte, Society for Tripura Medical College Chairman Promthesh Roy, Chief Executive Officer Swapan Saha, Principal of B.R. Ambedkar Teaching Hospital Arindam Dutta, Professor A.K. Chakma, and Tripura Medical College Medical Superintendent Jayant Poddar were present at the programme.
–IANS
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