The government of West Bengal is proposed to take steps to start 12 more medical colleges in the state by the academic year 2021. Out of the proposed 12 colleges, 10 medical colleges will be set up by the Government of West Bengal and 2 colleges in PPP (public-private partnership) model.
Government medical colleges would be established in Diamond Harbour, Cooch Behar, Raiganj, Rampurhat, Purulia, Arambagh, Jalpaiguri and Contai. Two more colleges will come up in Kurseong and Bhangar.
Admissions to MBBS course in the medical colleges in Diamond Harbour, Cooch Behar, Raiganj, Rampurhat and Purulia would start from the academic year 2019 – 20. Admissions in colleges at Arambagh, Jalpaiguri, Kurseong and Bhangar will start from the academic year 2021-22.
Currently, there are 18 medical and six dental colleges in West Bengal. The proposed new 12 colleges would bring up the number of colleges for medical education to 36.
With the setting up of these 12 new medical colleges, 1200 medical seats would be added in the system and total seats will reach to around 4,500. At present, there are 3,250 seats, combining the medical and dental colleges in West Bengal.