Agartala: Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on November 9 reaffirmed the state’s commitment to developing a robust healthcare infrastructure, emphasizing a vision of self-reliance in medical services. Speaking at the 18th annual state conference of the Association of Surgeons of India (Tripura Chapter), Saha outlined ongoing efforts to improve healthcare delivery, focusing on modernizing facilities, attracting skilled medical professionals, and establishing high-quality hospitals.
The Chief Minister highlighted that Tripura’s healthcare sector is evolving rapidly, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision. This includes expanding the presence of specialists and super-specialists within the state, enabling advanced medical procedures that previously required patients to seek treatment elsewhere. “Healthcare is a primary asset of the state,” Saha noted, pointing to substantial progress over the past six years, with local surgeons now equipped to perform various complex surgeries.
Saha announced that eight organizations have shown interest in building high-standard hospitals in Agartala, with the government offering prime city land for these projects. However, these private hospitals must independently hire doctors, as government physicians are not permitted to work in such establishments. This initiative aligns with the state’s broader healthcare vision, which also includes plans for a medical hub offering allopathic, homoeopathic, and ayurvedic services.
The Chief Minister also highlighted advancements in medical education, with three medical colleges now providing nearly 400 MBBS seats and a new government dental college offering 63 seats. Recent inaugurations, including a dialysis unit and a female medicine ward, reflect the state’s commitment to quality healthcare access. Tripura’s medical institutions are gaining recognition for their faculty excellence, with students achieving notable academic results.
Significantly, kidney transplants are now possible within the state, with plans underway to introduce liver transplants. Furthermore, Seha Hospital from Manipur has proposed a hospital and medical college project in Tripura, with an estimated investment of Rs. 700 crore, pending cabinet approval.
Additional expansions include trauma care centres in Shantirbazar, Udaipur, and Ambassa, and future plans for similar facilities in North Tripura. A cardiac care centre was recently inaugurated in Ambassa, and de-addiction centres are being established across all districts, each backed by a Rs. 20 crore allocation. Meanwhile, the number of beds at Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital has nearly doubled, from 727 to 1,413, underscoring Tripura’s commitment to enhanced healthcare infrastructure.
To support these initiatives, Rs. 515 crore has been allocated from the Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region, designated for diverse health projects. Chief Minister Saha assured that more advancements are forthcoming, reinforcing Tripura’s journey toward becoming a self-sustaining medical hub.