Chandigarh, March 5, 2026: In a major step to strengthen healthcare infrastructure and medical education in the state, the Punjab Government has announced the establishment of seven new medical colleges. The announcement was made by Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh, who said the initiative is part of the commitment made by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to improve healthcare services and expand medical education opportunities in Punjab.
Addressing a press conference at Punjab Bhawan in Chandigarh, the Health Minister said the project will include the development of two government medical colleges, two medical colleges under Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode, and three institutions to be set up by private and minority organisations. The move is expected to significantly improve the state’s capacity for medical education and healthcare services.
Construction of Hoshiarpur Medical College to Begin Soon
Dr Balbir Singh said that construction work for the Shaheed Udham Singh State Institute of Medical Sciences in Hoshiarpur will begin on March 20, 2026. The project is expected to be completed within 24 months and is likely to be finished by March 2028.
The project has received administrative approval of ₹274.75 crore. Once completed, the institute will include a 300-bed hospital and a medical college with an annual intake of 100 MBBS students. The facility will also feature modern infrastructure aimed at improving healthcare services in the region.
Major Savings in Project Cost
The Health Minister highlighted that the Punjab Government carried out a detailed review of the earlier project estimates. Initially, the estimated cost of the Hoshiarpur medical college was around ₹550 crore. However, after a careful reassessment, the government reduced the cost to about ₹274 crore, saving nearly ₹250 crore of public money.
Dr Balbir Singh said that the government is committed to ensuring transparency and efficient use of public funds while developing major healthcare infrastructure projects.
More Medical Colleges Planned Across Punjab
The Health Minister also revealed that another Government Medical College in Kapurthala is in the pipeline. The tender process for this project has already been completed, and construction work is expected to start soon.
Two additional medical colleges will be established under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model in Sangrur and SBS Nagar. The tender process for these institutions is currently underway.
Besides these, a Jain Minority Medical College will be set up in Lehragaga. The Punjab Government has already leased land for the project after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the concerned organisation.
A Muslim Minority Medical College is also planned in Malerkotla, and its Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been submitted to the Central Government for approval.
In addition, a private medical college near Ludhiana is also being developed as part of the expansion of medical education infrastructure in the state.
More Opportunities for Medical Students
Dr Balbir Singh said the establishment of seven new medical colleges will significantly increase the number of MBBS seats available in Punjab. At present, the state has 13 medical colleges offering around 1,900 MBBS seats.
With the addition of these new institutions, around 600 more MBBS seats will be created in the state. This will help many students pursue medical education within Punjab instead of going to countries such as Ukraine, China, or Nepal to study medicine.
The government believes that this initiative will strengthen medical education while also ensuring better healthcare services for the people of Punjab.
Upgradation of Existing Medical Colleges
The Health Minister also announced that the existing medical colleges in Patiala, Amritsar, and Faridkot are being upgraded to the level of Postgraduate Institutes. This will enable these institutions to provide advanced and super-specialty healthcare services to patients.
The upcoming Hoshiarpur medical institute will include a five-storey hospital building and a three-storey medical college building. The campus will feature modern laboratories, a well-equipped library, and a 500-seat auditorium for academic activities.
The hospital will offer services across multiple specialties such as General Surgery, Orthopedics, Psychiatry, and Intensive Care Units (ICU). It will also be equipped with advanced diagnostic facilities including MRI and CT scan services to ensure high-quality medical care.
