THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Ranchi, Oct 28: In a major boost to Jharkhand’s healthcare and education sectors, the central government has approved the establishment of four new medical colleges in the state under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
The approval was granted under the Government of India’s Scheme for Establishment of Medical Colleges in PPP Mode, aimed at expanding medical education and improving healthcare infrastructure across underserved regions of India.
Four Districts to Get New Medical Colleges
An important meeting was held in New Delhi at the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), where Ajay Kumar Singh, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Health, Medical Education and Family Welfare, Government of Jharkhand, presented the state’s proposal. Following his presentation, the Centre approved the establishment of medical colleges in the following districts:
Khunti – 50 MBBS seats
Jamtara – 100 MBBS seats
Dhanbad – 100 MBBS seats
Giridih – 100 MBBS seats
Each new institution will include a teaching hospital, bringing both medical education opportunities and better healthcare services to local communities.
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Funding Through PPP and VGF Model
These projects will be implemented under the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) sub-schemes administered by the DEA, Ministry of Finance.
The Dhanbad project will follow VGF Sub-Scheme–1, under which the Centre and State will contribute 30% each towards capital expenditure (Capex).
The other three colleges — Khunti, Jamtara, and Giridih — will come under VGF Sub-Scheme–2, with 40% Capex and 25% operational expenditure (Opex) support from the Centre, and 25%–40% Capex and 15%–25% Opex contribution from the State Government.
This PPP approach is expected to attract private investment and accelerate infrastructure development while ensuring quality standards and shared accountability.
Building on Jharkhand’s Growing Medical Education Network
Jharkhand currently has around nine medical colleges, including prominent institutions such as Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Ranchi, and Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College, Jamshedpur (MGMMC) — both among the oldest in eastern India.
In recent years, the opening of AIIMS Deoghar (2019) has strengthened the state’s medical education capacity, offering both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. However, the distribution of medical colleges has remained uneven, with several districts lacking adequate access to medical education and tertiary healthcare.
The approval of four new colleges aims to bridge this gap and ensure more balanced regional development.
A Boost for Healthcare and Employment
The new colleges are expected to have a transformative impact on Jharkhand’s health sector. By increasing the number of MBBS seats and creating more teaching hospitals, the initiative will:
Expand access to medical education for local students
Improve the availability of specialist doctors in rural and semi-urban areas
Strengthen district-level healthcare infrastructure
Generate employment opportunities for doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers
A Historic Day for Jharkhand
Calling it a “historic day” for the state, Ajay Kumar Singh, Additional Chief Secretary, said:
“The establishment of new medical colleges under the PPP model will significantly enhance medical education and healthcare services in Jharkhand, while also creating new employment opportunities for our youth.”
The state government has termed this development a landmark step in Jharkhand’s long-term health policy, emphasising that it aligns with its vision of improving access to quality healthcare for all.
Looking Ahead
The next steps will involve identifying private partners, finalising sites, and initiating construction and faculty recruitment. Once operational, these colleges will play a key role in reducing regional healthcare disparities and providing modern medical education to a new generation of students.
With this initiative, Jharkhand moves closer to realising its goal of “Health for All”, backed by both government and private collaboration.
