Pune: The city is all set to get a new govt-run medical college, ensuring affordable healthcare to the masses. Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has approved a new medical college with 50 MBBS seats to be attached to the ESIC Hospital located at Bibwewadi, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis announced on Wednesday evening through a tweet. College admissions are expected to start from academic year 2027–28 onwards.Dr Pradip Gaikwad, dean,ESIC Hospital, said, “Our hospital is run by the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation, and the medical college will also be managed by the same corporation. The proposal was submitted two years ago with the intent to start the medical college last year. We learnt through the media that the medical college has been approved, and we are still awaiting the official letter.”On social media, Fadnavis posted, “Good news for Pune and Maharashtra! Pune gets a new medical college! The Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has approved a new medical college with 50 MBBS seats for ESIC Medical College and Hospital, Pune, from the academic year 2027-28 onwards. Heartfelt gratitude to Hon’ble PM @narendramodi Ji and Union Minister @JPNadda Ji for this wonderful Navaratra gift to Maharashtra! This will accelerate making the ‘dream come true’ for many MBBS aspirants, and Maharashtra will get more doctors.”Madhuri Misal, minister of state for medical education, said in a statement, “I consistently pursued the matter with the Union ministry to establish a medical college with an intake capacity of 50 MBBS students at the ESIC Hospital in Bibwewadi. The proposal had previously been sent back twice for reconsideration. This decision was made possible because Devendra Fadnavis took a special interest in the matter. I extend my gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union health minister J P Nadda for this decision. This move will not only strengthen public healthcare services in Pune city but also expand opportunities for medical education. Students will be able to secure admission to the college starting from 2027-28 academic year. Additionally, the construction of the 500-bed hospital currently being built at this site will be completed, and the facility will become operational by Dec-end this year.”Bibwewadi ESIC Hospital is currently a 220-bed facility located on a 10-acre plot. With the approval of this new institution, it will become the third govt-run medical college in Pune city, joining Sassoon General Hospital and PMC’s Bharatratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical College.
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