Bhubaneswar: In a bid to expand medical education infrastructure in Odisha, State Health & Family Welfare Minister Dr. Mukesh Mahaling today met Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda in New Delhi and urged prompt issuance of the Letter of Permission (LoP) for 200 MBBS seats at two newly established government medical colleges — Pavitra Mohan Pradhan Medical College (PMPMC), Talcher, and Government Medical College (GMC), Phulbani.
The initiative was taken under the guidance of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, with Dr. Mahaling requesting 100 MBBS seats each for both institutions for the academic session 2025–26.
During the meeting, Dr. Mahaling also discussed strategies for further strengthening Odisha’s healthcare delivery system, especially in underserved regions.
Both colleges were set up to address the growing demand for medical education and healthcare professionals in the state. Applications for LoP were submitted on January 18, 2025, via the National Medical Commission (NMC) portal. Subsequently, NMC teams conducted physical inspections — at GMC Phulbani on May 28, and at PMPMC Talcher on June 23.
The Odisha government has already allocated the required budgetary provisions to upgrade facilities and ensure compliance with quality norms for medical education at these institutions.
Once the LoP is granted, the number of government medical colleges in Odisha will rise from 14 to 16, and the total MBBS intake capacity in government-run colleges will increase to 1,800 seats, marking a significant boost in healthcare access and education in the state.
Several senior leaders were present during the meeting, including Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water and Rural Development Minister Rabi Narayan Naik, Cuttack MP Bhartruhari Mahtab, Bargarh MP Pradeep Purohit, and Kandhamal MP Sukanta Kumar Panigrahi.
