Healthcare – Uttar Pradesh Plans Policy to Boost Private Medical Colleges and Hospitals
Healthcare – Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday announced that the state government is preparing a new policy aimed at encouraging private investment in healthcare infrastructure. The initiative is expected to support the establishment of super speciality hospitals and promote the opening of additional private medical colleges across the state.
The Chief Minister made the announcement while inaugurating a private hospital in Agra, highlighting the government’s efforts to expand healthcare services through collaboration between public institutions and private investors.
Healthcare Expansion Through Private Participation
Speaking at the event, Adityanath said the state has already introduced policy relaxations designed to make it easier for private players to open hospitals. The government now intends to further involve the private sector in strengthening the medical education network and improving access to specialised treatment facilities.
He noted that when the government, social institutions, and the public work together toward a shared objective, it strengthens public trust. According to him, Uttar Pradesh is gradually becoming an example of this cooperative approach.
The state government believes that increasing the number of medical institutions will help address the growing demand for qualified doctors and modern healthcare facilities.
Plans for Pharma and Medical Device Manufacturing
The Chief Minister also outlined plans to strengthen the state’s pharmaceutical and medical equipment manufacturing capacity. According to him, efforts are underway to ensure that medicines and medical devices used in Uttar Pradesh are increasingly produced within the state itself.
To support this goal, a large pharma park and medical device park are being planned in Lalitpur across approximately 1,500 acres. Another medical device park is proposed along the Yamuna Expressway region near Agra, covering around 350 acres.
These projects are expected to attract industry investment, create employment opportunities, and reduce dependency on external suppliers for critical healthcare products.
Centres of Excellence for Medical Technology
Adityanath further said that two specialised centres of excellence in medical technology are being established to support research and innovation. These centres will be located at IIT Kanpur and the Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences in Lucknow.
The aim of these institutions is to promote advanced research in medical technology and improve the development of modern healthcare equipment in India.
Healthcare Services as a Basic Public Need
Emphasising the importance of accessible healthcare, the Chief Minister said that citizens expect reliable medical services and quality treatment. While the government continues to expand public healthcare infrastructure, he noted that private participation is equally important to ensure wider reach and improved service delivery.
According to him, the government is working on multiple fronts to improve healthcare availability in both urban and rural regions of the state.
Progress in Medical Infrastructure Across Uttar Pradesh
Adityanath highlighted that Uttar Pradesh has seen significant growth in medical infrastructure over the past several years. He pointed out that before 2017, the state had only 17 medical colleges. Under the One District One Medical College initiative, the number has increased substantially, with around 81 medical colleges either operational or under construction across the state’s 75 districts.
In addition to these institutions, two All India Institute of Medical Sciences campuses are functioning in Gorakhpur and Raebareli.
At the national level, he noted that the number of AIIMS institutions has also increased significantly over the past decade. While only six such institutes were operational until 2014, the number has now expanded to 23 across the country.
Improved Medical Facilities and Health Schemes
The Chief Minister also said that free dialysis services and CT scan facilities are now available in every district of Uttar Pradesh. The government is also working to introduce advanced medical technologies and expand telemedicine services so that patients can access consultations without travelling long distances.
He further referred to the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, describing it as one of the largest public healthcare programmes in the country. The scheme currently provides health insurance coverage to nearly 60 crore beneficiaries nationwide.
In Uttar Pradesh, more than 5.7 crore Golden Cards have been issued under the programme. Eligible beneficiaries can receive free medical treatment worth up to Rs 5 lakh annually under the scheme.
Support for Economically Weaker Patients
Adityanath also said that financial assistance continues to be provided to patients requiring urgent medical care. According to him, Rs 1,300 crore has been released so far from the Chief Minister’s relief fund to support treatment for economically disadvantaged individuals.
He added that alongside infrastructure development, welfare initiatives implemented by the state government have contributed to improving living standards. According to official estimates, more than six crore people in the state have moved above the poverty line in recent years.