Assam Targets 29 Medical Colleges By 2030, One In Every Sub-Division By 2047: CM Sarma

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday (18 June) announced that Assam plans to expand its medical infrastructure from 13 to 29 medical colleges by 2030, to produce 4,000 doctors annually, The Assam Tribune reported.

“Our journey began with three colleges, and now we have thirteen. By 2030, we will have twenty-nine medical colleges, and by 2047, every sub-division in Assam will house one. That’s how we plan to produce around 4,000 doctors annually, reshaping Assam’s public health infrastructure,” Sarma was quoted as saying by Assam Tribune.

He was speaking at an event at the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) Auditorium, where appointment letters were handed to 400 medical officers.

Highlighting a tech-driven roadmap for healthcare, Sarma said that in the coming decade, outpatient departments (OPDs) could become obsolete.

He envisioned a future where patients consult doctors through mobile apps, even from remote areas.

He said that prescriptions would be generated digitally, and hospitals would maintain records of each doctor's consultations, including those done remotely from home.

He further stated that surgeries might no longer require a doctor’s physical presence. A surgeon based in the United States, for example, could guide a robotic system in Guwahati to perform complex procedures.

According to him, genomic medicine would also play a major role in predicting diseases like cancer well in advance.

He stressed that such advancements are not science fiction but are fast becoming reality.

Sarma emphasised that telemedicine, AI, robotics, and predictive healthcare will soon become the pillars of the state's healthcare system.

He also mentioned the expected arrival of Starlink, which will bring high-speed internet to remote areas, enabling such advancements statewide.

The CM noted Assam’s maternal mortality rate had dropped from 480 in 2006 to 167 in 2019-21.

“This reduction wasn’t sudden. It was the result of sustained efforts,” he said.

Looking ahead, Sarma envisioned 100-bedded hospitals in every constituency. He also reaffirmed focus on public over private medical institutions and urged doctors to become “tech-savvy professionals.”

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