Hospital Management

Five new teaching hospitals open in Odisha, India

The move has expanded Odisha’s healthcare capacity by adding approximately 3,000 more beds across five districts.

India's Odisha Government has opened new teaching hospitals associated with five medical colleges in the state.

These hospitals have been established with the state government's investment of over Rs20bn ($241m).

Inaugurated virtually by Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on 2 March, they are located in the state’s Balasore, Baripada, Balangir, Keonjhar, and Sundargarh areas.

Before the development of the new teaching hospitals, the five medical colleges were utilising the district headquarters hospitals (DHHs) for their teaching purposes.

By opening these facilities, Odisha expanded its healthcare capacity and added approximately 3,000 beds.

The Bhima Bhoi Medical College and Hospital in Balangir, Pandit Raghunath Murmu Medical College and Hospital in Baripada, and Fakir Mohan Medical College and Hospital in Balasore now each have 650 beds.

Meanwhile, the Government Medical College and Hospital in Sundargarh and the Dharanidhar Medical College and Hospital in Keonjhar comprise 500 beds each.

The move is expected to significantly enhance the state’s existing healthcare services, research capabilities and educational opportunities.

It will also benefit the residents of the respective districts and their surrounding areas.

Furthermore, Patnaik announced the commencement of the redevelopment process for four major and longstanding hospitals in Odisha.

These include the Acharya Harihar Postgraduate Institute of Cancer in Cuttack, MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur, VIMSAR in Burla, and Rourkela Government Hospital.

The state government is in the process of drafting a master plan, aimed at redeveloping these key hospitals with a 15-year vision in mind.

The Times of India quoted Patnaik as saying: “More than Rs3,400 crore (Rs34bn) will be spent for the redevelopment of these four hospitals. After transformation, they will become world-class healthcare institutions.

“Earlier, Odisha had three medical colleges only. Now we have added eight government medical colleges and two PG institutes within six years. Three more medical colleges will be added in the coming days.”