India's First PPP Model Medical College in Dhar
India's first Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model medical college was inaugurated in Dhar, Madhya Pradesh, on December 23. Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav and Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare JP Nadda laid the foundation stone for the project. Minister Nadda stated that this medical college is the first of its kind in the country, built with private-public partnership. This will not just be a building but will prepare MBBS doctors who will serve rural areas across the country.
The Dhar district also received a gift of 93 development projects worth ₹626 crore. Nadda added that after Dhar, the second medical college will be built in Betul, and proposals for the foundation stones of medical colleges in Panna and Katni are set for next month. A total of 14 new medical colleges have been approved for Madhya Pradesh, with ₹3,723 crore already provided by the central government. Additionally, ₹1,020 crore has been approved for 850 new MBBBS seats and ₹702 crore for 850 new MD seats in the state. This will allow treatment for serious diseases to be available locally in the district itself.
Chief Minister's Statement on Regional Benefits
Chief Minister Dr. Yadav stated that with the opening of the medical college, people will no longer have to travel to big cities for treatment of serious illnesses. The youth from tribal regions will become doctors right here, and the college will also prepare nurses, compounders, and paramedical staff locally. In August this year, contracts were signed to establish four new medical colleges in Betul, Katni, Dhar, and Panna under the PPP model. The foundation stones for Dhar and Betul are being laid today. More colleges are being planned in Bhind, Morena, Khargone, Ashoknagar, Guna, Balaghat, Tikamgarh, Sidhi, and Shajapur.
25 Acres of Land Leased for ₹1
The construction of the medical college on 25 acres of land in Dhar district is underway with an investment of ₹260 crore. The Swami Vivekananda Education Dham Foundation has partnered with the government to make this project a reality. The state government has provided 25 acres of land at a nominal lease of ₹1 for the foundation. Nursing and paramedical courses will also be offered at this facility, providing local youth with education and employment opportunities.
Increase in Medical Colleges in Madhya Pradesh
Chief Minister Dr. Yadav mentioned that there were only five medical colleges in the state until 2002-03. Now, the number has risen to 33. In the past two years, six new government medical colleges have been started, including those in the tribal regions of Singrauli and Shyopur. The state government has also approved 354 senior resident doctor posts, and the hospitals in Tikamgarh, Neemuch, Singrauli, Shyopur, and Dindori are being upgraded with 800 additional beds. Furthermore, 810 new doctor posts will be approved for these hospitals.
Expansion of Medical Seats Across India
Union Minister Nadda highlighted that health policies in India shifted from focusing only on treatment after illness to prioritizing healthy lifestyles since Prime Minister Narendra Modi's policy change in 2017. In 2014, India had 387 medical colleges and 51,000 MBBS seats, which have now increased to 819 medical colleges and 129,000 MBBS seats. The Prime Minister has set a goal to add 75,000 more seats across the country before 2030.
The event was attended by BJP State President Hemant Khandelwal, Dhar District Minister-in-charge Kailash Vijayvargiya, Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla, Union Minister of State for Health Savitri Thakur, Organizational Secretary Hitanand Sharma, Senior Leader Vikram Verma, and other elected representatives and officials.