The Odisha government is planning to fill nearly 1.5 lakh vacant government posts over the next five years with a special focus on strengthening the healthcare sector. As part of this drive over 5000 doctors nurses and paramedical staff will be recruited in 2025 alone.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Mukesh Mahaling confirmed the recruitment plan at the CII-Odisha Healthcare Summit 2025 in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday. Notably the announcement comes amid growing concerns over staffing shortages in public hospitals where over 5800 doctor posts reportedly remain vacant.
ldquoIn the past year we have already recruited more than 4000 healthcare workers. The upcoming wave of appointments will further support the statersquos expanding medical infrastructurerdquo Mahaling said.
Nine New Medical Colleges to Strengthen Healthcare Access
To meet the rising demand for doctors and medical education the state has approved the establishment of nine new medical colleges during the 2025ndash26 academic year.
These include four MBBS colleges in Jagatsinghpur Bhadrak Dhenkanal and Nabarangpur districts four dental colleges in Burla Berhampur Keonjhar and Bolangir and one Ayurvedic college in Mayurbhanj.
Two additional medical colleges in Talcher and Phulbani each with an intake of 100 MBBS students will commence operations this year. These initiatives fully budgeted in the 2025ndash26 state plan aim to bridge the doctor-patient ratio and expand healthcare access in underserved regions.
ALSO READOdisha CM Mohan Majhi inaugurates medical college 650-bed hospital in Kandhamal
Bhadrak district in particular is poised for a major transformation. Alongside a new government medical college and public university the state has green-lit industrial projects worth over Rs 6500 crore in the region.