PANAJI
In a significant push to the State’s medical education landscape, the Central government has approved a second government-run medical college in Goa, with 50 MBBS seats at the Employees’
State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) Hospital premises in Margao from the academic year 2027-28.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced that the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has approved the new medical college, describing it as a Navratri gift to Goa from the Centre. He said the decision would boost the State’s healthcare infrastructure and help MBBS aspirants realise their dreams, while thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Health Minister JP Nadda.The proposed institution will be Goa’s second government medical college after Goa Medical College (GMC), which currently has an intake capacity of 250 MBBS seats, with 85 per cent reserved under the State quota.
The State government had formally handed over the ESI Hospital in Margao to ESIC in July through a memorandum of understanding, paving the way for the proposed medical college. Nearly 50 per cent of the seats are expected to be reserved for Goan students.
Speaking to media persons, Sawant said that 25 seats would be reserved for Goan students and it will benefit the State in a big way as an Apex institute.
"The admissions will begin from the next academic year 2027-28 onwards," he said adding it was his dream to set up a second medical college in the State.
He said that College is fully centrally funded and that the government will only provide infrastructure.
Preparations for the institution are underway, with ESIC having conducted walk-in interviews last month to recruit 107 contractual staff, including professors, associate professors, assistant professors and senior residents. The State government is also planning to provide additional land to facilitate the future expansion of the medical college and hospital facilities. He said that the government has already taken over NUSI hospital for the expansion of the college.
The government had earlier explored setting up a private medical college at the new South Goa District Hospital to reduce travel to GMC and ease the growing patient and student load. However, the proposal was subsequently dropped following opposition.
