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In the last 11 years, the number of medical colleges in the country has increased from 387 to 819, Union Health Minister Nadda announced on Saturday. Speaking at the 50th Annual Convocation Ceremony of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Nadda highlighted that the number of undergraduate medical seats has grown from 51,000 to 1.29 lakh, while postgraduate seats have risen from 31,000 to 78,000. He mentioned that an additional 75,000 seats are projected to be added across undergraduate and postgraduate levels in the next five years. The health minister congratulated the graduating students and praised AIIMS for its exceptional contribution to the advancement of medical science, education, and patient care in the country. He urged the young doctors to serve people with empathy, maintain high ethical standards, and leverage innovation to address the country’s evolving healthcare needs. Nadda also pointed out the significant progress in maternal and child health, with the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) decreasing from 130 to 88 and the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) dropping from 39 to 27, according to the Sample Registration Survey (SRS) data. The Under-five Mortality Rate (U5MR) and Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) have also seen substantial reductions of 42 per cent and 39 per cent, respectively, surpassing the global average. Nadda further reported that TB incidence in India has decreased by 17.7 per cent, more than double the global rate of 8.3 per cent, as stated in The Lancet Report. Concluding his speech, the health minister called on the graduating students to actively engage in academics and research, and to uphold the esteemed legacy and reputation of AIIMS through excellence in their professional and ethical conduct. He encouraged them to remain lifelong learners and innovators, committed to advancing medical science and serving society with compassion. During the ceremony, degrees were awarded to 326 graduates, including 50 Ph.D. scholars, 95 DM/MCh specialists, 69 MDs, 15 MSs, 4 MDSs, 45 MSc, 30 MSc (Nursing), and 18 M.Biotech graduates. Additionally, seven doctors received the Lifetime Achievement Award for their outstanding contributions and dedicated service at AIIMS.
