In a bid to boost Assam’s healthcare sector, the Assam government recently announced the establishment of five new medical colleges across the state during the autumn session of the Assam Legislative Assembly. These new institutions will be located in Goalpara,Hailakandi, Majuli, Hojai, and Haflong. The state government’s strategy includes upgrading existing district hospitals to full-fledged medical colleges and integrating a wellness approach that combines Naturopathy, Ayurveda, and Yoga. Essentially, Assam is striving to position itself as a healthcare hub.
Turning to Guwahati, the city is claimed by authorities to host some of the best hospitals in the region. Gauhati Medical College and Hospital has recently inaugurated neurology and cardiology centres. A world-class cancer care hospital is nearing completion, while B.Borooah Cancer Institute has partnered with Tata Memorial Centre for advanced care. Additionally, numerous private hospitals operate across the city. With the inauguration of AIIMS near Guwahati, the health sector is expected to reach new heights. Furthermore, the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, in collaboration with central and state authorities, is working on revolutionising the healthcare ecosystem by developing a digital highway to ensure accessibility, affordability, inclusivity, and interoperability.
However, despite these developments, it remains unclear what treatments Guwahati specialises in. Many patients from Bangladesh travel to Guwahati for treatment, but often find themselves having to continue their journey to cities like Chennai, Bangalore, Vellore, or Hyderabad for accurate diagnoses and advanced care. Similarly, patients from states such as Nagaland, Meghalaya, Manipur, Tripura, and Mizoram frequently visit Guwahati but ultimately need to travel to other cities for treatment.
Even residents of Guwahati are not spared this ordeal. Every day, hundreds of people from the city head to Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, and beyond in search of better healthcare. The primary reason for this exodus is the inability of doctors in Guwahati to diagnose or treat many complex diseases effectively. For example, Bangalore is renowned for its neurological treatments, Patna for orthopaedics, Hyderabad for gastrointestinal issues, and Mumbai for oncology. In contrast, Guwahati lacks a defined area of specialisation. For eye-related treatments, some patients even travel to Nepal.
While the Assam government has highlighted significant progress in the state’s health sector, the fundamental issue remains unresolved. Guwahati’s second medical institution, Pragjyotish Medical College and Hospital, is set to open in 2025. By 2026, three more medical colleges in Bongaigaon, Charaideo, and Biswanath will be inaugurated, raising the total number of medical colleges and hospitals in the state to approximately 23 within the next two to three years. Furthermore, Tinsukia Medical College is scheduled to commence operations later this year. These initiatives underscore the government’s commitment to expanding medical education and healthcare services, aiming to enhance accessibility and quality across the state.
However, the crux of the problem lies in the lack of specialised doctors and advanced infrastructure. Without these, patients will continue to seek treatment outside the state. For the healthcare sector in Assam to truly develop, it must focus on cultivating specialisations to address a variety of medical conditions. For now, the state remains “not specialised” in treating many diseases.
