MBBS seats have more than doubled in the state, and UP has become a model in combating diseases: CM Yogi

Lucknow : While discussing the supplementary budget in the Assembly, CM Yogi provided an overview of the state’s health system and its achievements. He highlighted that UP has doubled the number of MBBS seats in the past seven years and has established itself as a model in the country for eliminating diseases like encephalitis and COVID-19.

The Chief Minister remarked, “The health sector in the state has seen remarkable improvements. It was once unimaginable that a medical college would be established in Siddharthnagar, or that medical colleges would open in districts like Deoria, Ayodhya, Gonda, Bahraich, Balrampur, Sultanpur, Sonbhadra, Ghazipur, and Chandauli.”

He added, “These are the districts in Uttar Pradesh where it was once believed that people’s lives were of little value. Diseases would claim lives every year. During the encephalitis season, one to two thousand children would die, most of whom were from Dalit or minority communities. Our government, through extensive coordination with both departmental and central agencies, has made substantial efforts, and today encephalitis has been eradicated. This achievement serves as a model for the entire country.”

Noting that dengue once
caused significant outbreaks from Varanasi to Ballia, chikungunya affected Bundelkhand, and kala-azar was prevalent in districts near Bihar, the Chief Minister stated that these diseases are now under control.

He added, “We presented a model for COVID-19 management to the nation and successfully protected a large population within the state. Primary and community health centers have been strengthened and are continuously improving. The positive outcomes from these efforts demonstrate that our initiatives are proving effective.”

CM Yogi stated that the state is moving towards the goal of establishing One District One Medical College. “From independence until 2017, only 12 medical colleges were established. Since 2017, there are now only 10 districts left without medical colleges. We are committed to creating a new model for these districts as well, with the goal of having one medical college in every district.”

He also mentioned that the National Medical Council has approved the operation of medical colleges built in Sambhal, Maharajganj, and Shamli on a PPP model starting this session. Additionally, counseling will be conducted for 10,500 MBBS seats in the state. Uttar Pradesh has successfully more than doubled its medical admissions capacity.

Highlighting that nursing is a field with 100 percent employment potential for youth, Yogi said, “We are establishing or have already established 23 new nursing colleges in the government sector. Additionally, 22,555 Arogya Mandirs have been set up in the state. A total of 5 crore 11 lakh Ayushman cards have been issued. We are organizing Arogya Melas every week at the Primary Health Center level, and so far, 12 crore patients have been treated.”

He added: “We have made a policy for clinical trial pharmaceutical research and innovation and are going to build the state’s first pharma park in Lalitpur. Medical Device Park is progressing in Yamuna Authority.”