CM Hemant Soren announces Jharkhand’s plan for 30 medical colleges

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Friday said the state government is working to increase the number of medical colleges from around 12 at present to between 25 and 30 over the next five to seven years , setting a long‑term target through 2032. Addressing a function to mark the commencement of classes for the first MBBS batch at a private medical college in Adityapur, Seraikela‑Kharswan district, Soren underscored the government’s aim to build an ecosystem that provides not only quality medical education but also modern healthcare services.

While the announcement sets a clear expansion goal, Soren did not detail a step‑by‑step roadmap . He acknowledged there are various challenges in achieving the objective, including infrastructure development, availability of qualified faculty and regulatory approvals but said the government was committed to strengthening healthcare infrastructure “ at all levels. ”

Some steps toward the expansion are already underway. The Centre has cleared a plan to establish four new medical colleges in Jharkhand under a public‑private partnership (PPP), with proposed institutions in Khunti (50 MBBS seats), Jamtara, Dhanbad and Giridih (each with 100 seats), aimed at increasing access to medical education and specialist doctors, especially in rural and semi‑urban areas.

The government’s budget proposals have also indicated the intent to set up additional medical colleges and hospitals in several districts, including Ranchi, Hazaribagh, Palamu, Dhanbad, Deoghar and Jamshedpur, to promote balanced regional development of healthcare facilities, although many of these plans are still pending implementation.

Currently, Jharkhand’s 12 medical colleges include both government and private institutions. Soren described the establishment of a medical college in a relatively smaller district like Seraikela‑Kharswan as a step toward improving access to education and care beyond urban centres. He reiterated that the government will continue efforts to overcome resource constraints, attract investment, and work with regulators to meet its expansion target.