Assam to set up three medical colleges for Rs 570 crore

Guwahati: Assam Health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said three medical colleges and hospitals will be constructed across the state over the next three years at an investment of Rs 570 crore.

“In construction of the three medical colleges and hospitals in Dhubri, Nagaon and Lakhimpur, we will spend Rs 570 crore. The amount will be divided equally among the three hospitals,” Sarma said at a press conference.

He said 90 per cent of the amount would be funded by the Centre and the rest would be borne by the state.

“For the Medical Council of India inspection, we will have to upgrade the hospitals in the second phase. For that, we will require another Rs 40-45 crore in each hospital. This amount will be financed entirely by the state government,” Sarma said.

Land in all the three places has been acquired and the institutions would be ready in the next three years, he said.

Union Health Minister J P Nadda would launch the construction work for the hospitals in Dhubri and Nagaon during his two-day tour to the state from tomorrow, Sarma said adding, “all three hospitals will be 500-bedded”.

The minister said an additional Rs 25 crore have been spent for acquiring 60 bighas of land for Dhubri Medical College and Hospital.

Likewise, around Rs ten crore has been invested for purchasing 50 bighas of land in Lakhimpur.

“In Nagaon, we did not purchase any land. Government already has enough land and the hospital will be constructed on a 100 bigha plot,” Sarma said.

He said work for three more medical colleges at Nalbari, Tinsukia and Kokrajhar would begin by the end of this year.

“The ongoing construction for the Diphu Medical College and Hospital will be over by this year and we will inaugurate it in 2017,” Sarma said.