The National Medical Commission (NMC) has approved 58 additional postgraduate (MD/MS) seats for government medical colleges in Uttarakhand for the 2025–26 academic session, marking a significant step toward strengthening specialist medical education in the state.
Our correspondent reports that the new seats have been distributed among three government medical institutions — 10 seats at the Government Doon Medical College in Dehradun, 13 seats at the Government Medical College in Haldwani, and 35 seats at the Government Medical College in Almora.
These newly sanctioned seats cover a range of specialisations, including pharmacology, anatomy, microbiology, ophthalmology, forensic medicine, orthopaedics, general medicine, pathology, community medicine, ENT, physiology, anaesthesiology, surgery, biochemistry, gynaecology, and paediatrics. The move aims to expand postgraduate learning opportunities and improve the availability of trained specialists in both urban and remote areas.
Our correspondent adds that Uttarakhand currently has five government medical colleges, of which Dehradun, Haldwani, and Srinagar previously offered PG courses across 19 undergraduate departments. Until now, Almora and Haridwar medical colleges did not have any postgraduate programmes. With this new approval, Almora will offer 35 PG seats for the first time, boosting access to higher medical education in the Kumaon region.
State Health Minister Dr Dhan Singh Rawat said that this development aligns with the government’s goal of ensuring every government medical college in Uttarakhand offers at least 100 MD/MS seats in the coming years. He said the state government had proactively submitted a proposal to the Centre and NMC, highlighting the need for more postgraduate medical seats to address the shortage of specialist doctors across the hill districts.
Dr Rawat further added that the government is focusing on faculty recruitment, infrastructure expansion, and advanced medical facilities to support the increased intake. Laboratories, lecture halls, and hospital units are being upgraded to meet the NMC’s standards for postgraduate medical education.
Our correspondent adds that the addition of 58 seats will not only strengthen medical education but will also enhance specialist healthcare delivery in rural and remote areas. The state has long faced a shortage of doctors specialising in fields such as anaesthesiology, gynaecology, and general surgery — an issue the new expansion is expected to address.
Officials said admissions to these postgraduate programmes will take place through the NEET-PG entrance examination, followed by counselling conducted by the Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Uttarakhand Medical Education University. They also noted that this expansion is part of a long-term plan to make Uttarakhand self-reliant in medical expertise and reduce dependence on other states for advanced specialist training.
Experts have welcomed the NMC’s approval, calling it a milestone in the development of Uttarakhand’s healthcare system. They noted that more postgraduate students will improve the functioning of government hospitals, strengthen clinical research, and enhance the availability of trained faculty for future medical batches.
The approval of 58 new MD/MS seats is expected to create a ripple effect in medical education, improving the overall standard of healthcare delivery in the state and contributing to the government’s broader vision of accessible, affordable, and high-quality healthcare for all citizens.
