Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel addressed the seventh convocation of Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi on December 22, highlighting the transformation underway in India’s healthcare system alongside the expansion of medical education and services.
At the convocation, degrees were awarded to more than 217 postgraduate students, 136 undergraduate students and 40 super specialty students, while 43 students were conferred medals in recognition of academic excellence and dedication. Senior officials present included the Vice Chancellor of Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University and the Director General of Health Services under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
The event underscored the scale up of medical education capacity across the country in recent years. The number of medical colleges has increased from 387 to 819, while AIIMS type institutions have expanded from seven to 23. Undergraduate medical seats have risen from about 51,000 to 1,28,000 and postgraduate seats from around 31,000 to nearly 82,000, strengthening the pipeline of trained doctors and specialists.
The address also highlighted the expansion of healthcare delivery through national programmes. A nationwide network of Ayushman Arogya Mandirs is providing comprehensive primary healthcare services, while efforts are ongoing to bridge gaps in secondary healthcare through strengthened community health centres and district hospitals, alongside the growth of tertiary care facilities.
Health insurance coverage under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana has been extended to more than 62 crore beneficiaries, covering over 40 percent of the population with free treatment up to ₹5 lakh per family. Access to affordable medicines and medical devices has been improved through the expansion of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana and Amrit Pharmacies across the country.
The convocation reflected the broader emphasis on strengthening healthcare infrastructure, medical education and service delivery, with newly graduating doctors expected to contribute to clinical care, research and community health services nationwide.
Also Read