Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for five projects worth ₹20.55 crore at the Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Uttarakhand Medical Education University campus in Selakui, Dehradun district.
The projects include the foundation stones for three initiatives worth ₹20.21 crore and the inauguration of two facilities costing ₹34 lakh.
The Chief Minister laid the foundation stones for a proposed administrative building, an amphitheatre and a Nakshatra Vatika (constellation garden). He also inaugurated the university’s main entrance gate and dental hospital. During the programme, Dhami offered prayers to Goddess Saraswati and paid floral tributes to the late Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna.
Emphasising the importance of medical education, Dhami said interacting with young people always gave him new energy. He said the university was playing a significant role in developing medical education and shaping the future of students in Uttarakhand. The new infrastructure would provide students with a better academic environment and contribute to regional development.
The Chief Minister said the state government was committed to ensuring that students pursuing medical education could serve society as competent doctors, nursing officers and other healthcare professionals. He expressed confidence that students would bring recognition to the university and Uttarakhand through their skills, dedication and commitment to service.
Dhami also revealed that the state government had submitted a proposal to the Union Health Ministry for establishing a super-speciality hospital on the university campus. Work on the project would proceed after receiving approval from the Centre.
He observed that medical professionals carried a significant social responsibility, as doctors and healthcare workers not only save lives but also help people recover and rebuild their lives. He stressed that compassion, dedication and a spirit of service were essential qualities in the medical profession.
Expansion of Medical Education and Healthcare
Dhami said medical education and healthcare services had expanded considerably under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, with new AIIMS institutions, medical colleges and modern healthcare facilities being developed across the country. Uttarakhand was pursuing similar initiatives to strengthen its healthcare infrastructure.
The state currently has five government medical colleges, while two more are under construction. In addition, nine nursing colleges and three nursing schools are operational. Super-speciality services are being expanded at medical colleges in Dehradun, Haldwani and Srinagar.
He said a modern cancer institute was being built in Haldwani, while district hospitals and community health centres were also being strengthened. An AIIMS satellite centre is under construction in Kichha, Udham Singh Nagar district, at a cost of ₹351 crore. The facility is expected to provide modern healthcare services to a large population in the region.
To improve healthcare access in remote and difficult-to-reach areas, the government is also promoting telemedicine and heli-ambulance services.
The Chief Minister added that recruitment of doctors, nursing officers and paramedical personnel was being accompanied by improvements in training facilities at government hospitals and medical colleges.
International Employment Opportunities for Youth
Dhami highlighted the state’s efforts to provide young people with international employment opportunities through foreign-language training. He said 60 candidates secured employment in Japan in 2023, while 13 candidates found jobs in Germany in 2025.
Referring to Uttarakhand resident Sapna Rana, who secured employment in Germany after receiving German-language training, he said young people from the state were gaining international recognition through their skills and talent. Students educated in Uttarakhand were also serving at prestigious institutions, including AIIMS, PGI, the Railways and the Military Nursing Service.
Dhami reiterated the government’s commitment to creating better employment opportunities and protecting the future of young people. He said a stringent anti-cheating law had been implemented to prevent irregularities in recruitment examinations. More than 35,000 young people had secured government jobs in the state over the past five years through transparent recruitment processes, he added.
Medical Health and Medical Education Minister Subodh Uniyal said the government was continuously working to expand medical education, strengthen healthcare infrastructure and provide students with quality education and training.
The programme was attended by MLA Sahdev Singh Pundir, university Vice-Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Bhanu Duggal, UCOST Director General Prof. Durgesh Pant, Information Director General Banshidhar Tiwari, Medical Education Director Dr. Ashutosh Sayana, Dr. Sanjay Gaur, Dr. Geeta Jain and other officials and dignitaries.
