A significant milestone was achieved in the field of medical education in Tripura as Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha inaugurated the Agartala Government Nursing College on Tuesday. This College comes up after the opening of the Dental College in the State.
With this establishment, the state now boasts its first government nursing college, providing aspiring students with opportunities to study B.Sc Nursing within the state, in addition to ANM and GNM courses.
Situated at the G+8 building of IGM Hospital, the Agartala Government Nursing College is well-equipped with modern infrastructure, including smart classrooms, hostels, and other contemporary facilities. The introduction of the B.Sc nursing course at this institution, starting from the current academic year, marks a significant step forward in enhancing medical education within the state.
Speaking at the inauguration, Chief Minister Dr. Saha expressed the state government’s commitment to the development of medical services and the improvement of overall healthcare infrastructure, particularly at the primary level. To fulfill this commitment, the government has increased the budget allocation for the health sector to Rs 1756 crore this year.
The state budget 2023-24 has proposed the construction of approximately 100 new Health Sub-Centers, and an MoU has been signed to establish another private medical college in Ambassa, Dhalai district, with the ultimate goal of making Tripura a health hub.
Initially, the Agartala Government Nursing College will offer 50 seats for students. Moreover, the government aims to develop the ANM Training Institute in the Gomati district for GNM with a capacity of 40 seats in the fiscal year 2023-24. In a bid to improve higher education opportunities, the number of Post Graduate seats has been increased from 25 to 79 in Agartala Government Medical College.
Dr. Saha emphasized that the state’s medical colleges are on par with those outside the state, and continuous efforts are being made to further enhance the medical infrastructure. Special attention has been given to facilities for patients in hospitals, and multiple initiatives have been undertaken to improve healthcare services throughout the state.
Notably, three community health centers in Panisagar, Kumarghat, and Karbook have been successfully upgraded to sub-division hospitals. Additionally, trauma care centers have been established in South District, Dhalai District, and Gomati District Hospitals, significantly improving prompt medical services for individuals injured in accidents and other incidents.
Recent developments include a new building constructed at Longtharai Valley Sub-Divisional Hospital, enhancing healthcare facilities in the region. Furthermore, several primary health centers have been upgraded to CHCs, and six primary health centers have received newly inaugurated buildings to cater to the community’s healthcare needs.
Dr. Saha, who also serves as the Health Minister of the state, disclosed that efforts are underway to establish a trauma care center in Dharmanagar.
Additionally, an initiative has been taken to establish 50-bed de-addiction centers in all eight districts of the state, further emphasizing the government’s commitment to addressing healthcare challenges comprehensively.
Following the inauguration ceremony, Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, accompanied by Health Secretary Dr. Debashis Basu, inspected various facilities within the institution, including the laboratory and library. The event witnessed the presence of distinguished guests, including Director of Medical Education Prof. HP Sharma, Director of Family Welfare Dr. Supriya Mallick, Medical Superintendent of AGMC Dr. Sankar Chakraborty, and Principal of Agartala Nursing College Dr. Maitri Chowdhury.