By Firstdespatch Desk Jul 29, 2026
Agartala, July 29 (FD) Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Wednesday announced that the state government will soon appoint the Vice-Chancellor of the proposed Medical University, a key step towards strengthening the administration and academic governance of the state's rapidly expanding medical education sector.
Speaking at a programme organised by the Hepatitis Foundation of Tripura (HFT) on the occasion of World Hepatitis Day at Rabindra Bhavan in Agartala, the Chief Minister said the legislation for establishing the Medical University has already been passed by the Tripura Legislative Assembly.
Saha said the proposed university would bring all medical institutions in the state under a dedicated administrative and academic framework, replacing the existing arrangement under Tripura University.
"Tripura currently has several medical institutions, and two more medical colleges are under development. At present, these institutions are affiliated with Tripura University, which is not a dedicated medical university. Once the proposed Medical University becomes operational, it will provide specialised academic and administrative oversight to all medical institutions in the state. We will soon appoint its Vice-Chancellor, a move that will significantly strengthen the quality of medical education, research and governance in Tripura," the Chief Minister said.
Tripura currently has three medical colleges with a combined intake of 550 MBBS seats and more than 200 postgraduate seats. Saha said an Ayurvedic Medical College is expected to become operational during the current academic session, while a Homoeopathic Medical College is likely to begin functioning from the next academic session.
Highlighting the state's progress in healthcare, the Chief Minister said referral of patients outside Tripura has declined by nearly 80 per cent over the years due to significant improvements in medical infrastructure and healthcare services.
He also noted that Tripura's telemedicine network has been integrated with the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, enabling patients at Govind Ballabh Pant (GBP) Hospital in Agartala to receive specialist consultations free of cost. The state government bears an expenditure of ₹5,000 per patient under the initiative, he said.
Saha further highlighted the government's focus on preventive healthcare through the Mukhyamantri Niramay Arogya Abhiyan, which emphasises early screening and treatment of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
“Non-communicable diseases in the state have become a major challenge for the health workers as nearly 75 per cent of deaths in Tripura are caused by them. Early diagnosis and timely intervention are therefore among the government's top healthcare priorities," he said.
The Chief Minister also lauded the Hepatitis Foundation of Tripura for its sustained efforts to eliminate hepatitis from the state within the next four years.
"The foundation has been working determinedly to make Tripura hepatitis-free. I am confident it will achieve its mission with the continued support of the state government," Saha said. FD JK