The Madhya Pradesh government has substantially increased its health allocation in the 2026–27 state Budget, earmarking ₹23,747 crore to strengthen healthcare infrastructure, expand medical education and improve service delivery across the state.
The allocation marks one of the largest public health investments in recent years and reflects a continued push to improve access to quality care beyond major urban centres. The government highlighted the expansion of district-level healthcare facilities, with new district hospitals being established in Maihar, Mauganj and Pandhurna. The state’s total bed capacity now stands at 48,000 beds, aimed at addressing rising patient loads and improving inpatient care access.
Maternal healthcare has also received focused attention, with 228 maternity waiting rooms set up to support high-risk pregnant women, particularly in underserved and remote regions. This initiative is intended to reduce maternal and neonatal complications by ensuring timely access to institutional care.
Medical education continues to see rapid expansion. Five new government medical colleges have opened over the past two years, increasing MBBS seats from 2,275 to 2,850. Postgraduate medical seats have risen significantly from 262 to 1,468. Additionally, colleges in Indore, Rewa, Seoni, Bhopal, Jabalpur, Sagar and Gwalior have undergone upgrades to improve training infrastructure and clinical capacity.
The state is also exploring public-private partnerships (PPP) to accelerate the establishment of new medical colleges. Agreements have been signed in Dhar, Baijnath and Panna, with nine additional projects planned across various districts.
To address workforce shortages, recruitment is underway for 3,850 doctors and 1,256 nursing officers, a move expected to strengthen frontline service delivery and improve patient care standards.
Under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, more than 4.46 crore health cards have been issued in the state, including 15.48 lakh special cards for citizens above 70 years of age. The scheme is currently linked with 1,118 government hospitals and 720 private hospitals. A provision of ₹2,139 crore has been allocated for the scheme in 2026–27 to ensure continued coverage and financial protection for beneficiaries.
The expanded allocation signals a strategic effort to reinforce healthcare capacity across Madhya Pradesh, combining infrastructure growth, medical education expansion, workforce recruitment and social health coverage.
Implementation of these measures will be key to determining their impact on service accessibility, institutional readiness and long-term health outcomes across the state.
