Ranchi: The Union ministry of health and family welfare on Wednesday gave its in-principal approval to convert six district hospitals in Jharkhand into medical college hospitals under public-private-partnership (PPP) mode. Sudivya Kumar, state minister for higher and technical education, took to his X account to make the announcement after attending a meeting with Union health minister J P Nadda in New Delhi.Kumar, in his statement, said a proposal to convert sadar hospitals in Dhanbad, Deoghar, Khunti, Giridih, Jamtara, and East Singhbhum (Jamshedpur) into fully functional medical colleges through PPP collaboration was placed before Nadda. The move is aimed to expand access to tertiary healthcare and address the growing demand for medical professionals in the state. “During the discussion, Kumar advocated for swift approvals and financial assistance from the Centre to facilitate the timely implementation of the projects highlighting that these medical colleges would not enhance healthcare delivery but also generate opportunities,” read a statement from his office.Acknowledging the importance of the proposal, Nadda offered his support and gave in-principle approval for the same. “I am confident that with the consistent support of the Union govt, the state will reach new milestones in the healthcare sector, ensuring improved medical services for every citizen of the state,” Kumar wrote on X after the meeting. Besides a regional centre of AIIMS in Deoghar, there are six state govt run medical colleges in the state while plans are being drawn to build one each in Ranchi and Bokaro. Talking to TOI on Wednesday, health secretary Ajoy Kumar Singh said, “The PPP model is expected to bring efficiency, innovation, and private investment into the state’s public health infrastructure, while the academic component will help bridge the gap in medical education and healthcare workforce availability. The move marks a strategic step toward achieving inclusive healthcare and educational development in the state.“
