Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda today said the government has laid equal emphasis on strengthening healthcare infrastructure and skilled medical manpower in the country.

 

Addressing the 10th Convocation of the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS) in New Delhi, Mr Nadda said institutions like ILBS are playing a pioneering role in strengthening the country’s healthcare ecosystem. He said the government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is focused on developing both healthcare infrastructure and skilled human resources in the health sector.

 

Highlighting the expansion of medical education, Mr Nadda said India had only one AIIMS till the end of the 20th century. He noted that the expansion of AIIMS began under former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee with the establishment of six new AIIMS, while the present government has further expanded the network across the country.

 

The Union Minister said the number of medical colleges has increased from 387 in 2014 to 818 at present. He added that undergraduate medical seats have also risen from about 50 thousand to more than 1 lakh 20 thousand, significantly enhancing opportunities for aspiring doctors and strengthening the country’s healthcare workforce.

 

Congratulating the graduating students, Mr Nadda said receiving a degree from a premier institution like ILBS is both a matter of pride and responsibility. He urged them to serve people with compassion, uphold the highest standards of professionalism, and contribute meaningfully to strengthening the country’s healthcare system throughout their careers.