New Delhi: Union Health Minister Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda inaugurated two new Government Medical Colleges in Sheopur and Singrauli on August 25, 2025, as part of a comprehensive drive to strengthen public health infrastructure in Madhya Pradesh. The event witnessed the presence of state leaders like Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav, Deputy Chief Minister Shri Rajendra Shukla, and others. Alongside the inaugurations, several transformative health programs were launched to enhance community health and medical education.
Expansion of Medical Education and Infrastructure
The new medical colleges in Sheopur and Singrauli, established under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme on a public-private partnership model, aim to broaden medical education and healthcare accessibility, especially for tribal and underserved populations. With 17 government and 13 private medical colleges, Madhya Pradesh is becoming a strong health sector performer.
Shri Nadda highlighted remarkable growth nationally with 780 medical colleges now offering 1.7 lakh undergraduate seats, up from 387 colleges and 56,000 seats in 2014. The Government plans to add 75,000 more undergraduate and postgraduate seats in the next five years, democratizing medical education through initiatives like NEET exams offered in 13 languages to benefit rural students.
Milestones in Healthcare Initiatives
Significant health programs and achievements announced include:
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Swasthya Yakrit Mission (Healthy Liver Mission): Surpassing 1 crore screenings, marking an important milestone in tackling liver diseases.
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Distribution of 8 Lakh Vay Vandana PVC Cards: Aimed at extending healthcare benefits to elderly citizens.
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Launch of ‘Ayushman Sakhi’ Smart Chatbot: Enhancing citizen awareness and access to health schemes.
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‘Asha Samvaad’ Platform: A new forum for direct communication between the Ministry and ASHA workers (approx. 70,000 in MP), strengthening grassroots health outreach.
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Maternal and Child Health Awareness: Release of communication materials including the revised Mother and Child Protection Card, which now records more comprehensive health data and promotes nutrition awareness, including iron and calcium supplementation.
Focus on Maternal and Child Health
Shri Nadda underscored the progress in safe motherhood, with institutional deliveries rising to 89% and a significant reduction in maternal and child mortality ratios. The Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) has dropped from 130 to 93 per 100,000 live births, and Under-5 Mortality Rate (U5MR) declined 42%, much higher than the global average.
The newly released Mother and Child Protection Card facilitates the tracking of vital health indicators and promotes interventions for better pregnancy and newborn care.
Non-Communicable Disease Screening
Efforts under the National Non-Communicable Diseases Programme have achieved unprecedented population screening, diagnosing millions with hypertension, diabetes, oral, cervical, and breast cancers, reflecting a proactive approach to managing chronic conditions at the community level.
Government Commitment and Future Prospects
Shri Nadda praised ASHA workers for their dedication in ensuring healthcare delivery at the grassroots level, and emphasized continuing government support for health infrastructure and community programs in Madhya Pradesh.
Dr. Mohan Yadav praised the government’s commitment to tribal development through these medical colleges and lauded the Ayushman Bharat scheme’s role in providing financial support to vulnerable populations.
Conclusion
The inauguration of medical colleges in Sheopur and Singrauli, alongside robust health initiatives like Swasthya Yakrit Mission and ASHA Samvaad, epitomizes a holistic advancement in Madhya Pradesh’s healthcare system. Under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s visionary leadership, India is poised for transformative progress toward inclusive, accessible, and preventive healthcare.
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Union Health Minister Shri JP Nadda inaugurates new medical colleges in Sheopur and Singrauli, launches key health initiatives in Madhya Pradesh, achieving major milestones in screenings and maternal health.
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JP Nadda, Madhya Pradesh, Sheopur Medical College, Singrauli Medical College, Swasthya Yakrit Mission, Ayushman Bharat, ASHA Samvaad, maternal health, medical education, public health initiatives, non-communicable diseases, Vay Vandana Card# Union Health Minister Shri JP Nadda Inaugurates New Medical Colleges and Launches Multiple Health Initiatives in Madhya Pradesh
Medical Colleges Expand Access
Shri JP Nadda inaugurated new government medical colleges in Sheopur and Singrauli, underlining the government’s commitment to healthcare accessibility for tribal and underserved areas. These colleges are part of a larger plan in Madhya Pradesh, which has 17 government and 13 private medical colleges, with more under development through Public–Private Partnerships (PPP), supported by the Union Health Ministry.
Health Cards and Digital Initiatives
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8 lakh Vay Vandana PVC cards were distributed to aid health service access.
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The ‘Ayushman Sakhi’ smart chatbot was launched to improve citizen awareness and access to health schemes.
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‘Asha Samvaad’, a platform for direct communication with ASHA workers, was introduced to enhance outreach and governance.
Milestones in Screening and Nutrition
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The Swasthya Yakrit (Healthy Liver) Mission reached the milestone of 1 crore screenings, showcasing progress in preventive healthcare.
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A new Mother and Child Protection card was launched to better track and promote maternal and child health, alongside awareness campaigns on nutrition emphasizing iron-folic acid and calcium intake.
Maternal and Child Health Improvements
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Institutional deliveries increased to 89%, reflecting safer motherhood.
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Significant reductions in maternal mortality (from 130 to 93 per lakh) and under-5 mortality rates (42% decrease) were highlighted.
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Health screening for non-communicable diseases like hypertension, diabetes, and cancers reached unprecedented levels.
Focus on Education and Capacity
Shri Nadda highlighted India’s growth in medical education from 387 to 780 medical colleges with 1.7 lakh undergraduate seats and plans to add 75,000 more seats in five years. The NEET exam is now offered in 13 languages, improving accessibility for rural students.
Government and Leadership Support
The Government of India and Madhya Pradesh state are committed to supporting these initiatives, reflecting Prime Minister Modi’s vision for holistic healthcare involving prevention, curative, palliative, and rehabilitative approaches.
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Source: PIB
