Jharkhand nearly triples MBBS seats to 1,650 in seven years

Jharkhand has nearly tripled its MBBS seat capacity over the past seven years, with the number of seats in government and private medical colleges rising from 580 in 2019-20 to 1,650 in 2026-27, according to figures shared by the state health department. The expansion is aimed at addressing the shortage of doctors and improving access to healthcare across the State.

Health Minister Irfan Ansari said the government expected a substantial improvement in the availability of doctors over the next two years as medical education infrastructure expands and training facilities improve.

He made the remarks after a nearly four-hour meeting with Health Department Additional Chief Secretary Ajay Kumar Singh on Wednesday to discuss increasing MBBS seats, modernising medical education and strengthening the state's healthcare system.

Ansari said the shortage of doctors had remained a major challenge for Jharkhand and that a lasting solution required expanding medical colleges and increasing opportunities for students to pursue medical education within the state.

“My clear objective is to significantly improve the availability of doctors in Jharkhand over the next two years. For this, we must strengthen the foundation of medical education while focusing on quality teaching, modern technology and better training,” the minister said.

He added that expanding medical education was not merely about increasing the number of seats but also about ensuring that more qualified doctors became available to serve people, particularly those in rural and underserved areas.

Among government institutions, Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Ranchi, has increased its MBBS intake from 180 to 250 seats. Shaheed Nirmal Mahto Medical College and Hospital in Dhanbad has doubled its intake from 50 to 100 seats, while MGM Medical College and Hospital in Jamshedpur has expanded from 50 to 150 seats.

Phulo Jhano Medical College and Hospital in Dumka, Medinirai Medical College and Hospital in Palamu, and Sheikh Bhikhari Medical College and Hospital in Hazaribagh have 100 MBBS seats each, according to the figures provided by the state.

Private medical colleges have also contributed to the expansion. Manipal Tata Medical College in Jamshedpur, which began with 150 seats in 2021-22, now has an intake of 250. Laxmi Chandravansi Medical College in Palamu has increased its intake from 100 to 150 seats, while Netaji Subhas Medical College and Hospital in Seraikela has expanded from 100 to 200 seats.

Additional Chief Secretary Ajay Kumar Singh said the increase in MBBS seats must be accompanied by improvements in faculty strength, hospital infrastructure, medical equipment and practical training facilities.

He stressed that the objective was not simply to produce more doctors but to ensure that medical colleges trained competent professionals capable of delivering quality healthcare.

Ansari said the state government, under Chief Minister Hemant Soren's guidance, was committed to strengthening medical education and healthcare services. He added that expanding the number of doctors and improving medical facilities would help reduce the difficulties faced by poor patients seeking treatment.

The reported increase to 1,650 MBBS seats marks a significant expansion of medical education capacity in Jharkhand. The challenge ahead will be to translate this growth into a stronger healthcare workforce and better access to treatment, particularly in rural areas.