YS Jagan Government’s Vision for Expanding Medical Education
With the objective of developing backward regions and making free quality healthcare and medical education accessible to people across Andhra Pradesh, the YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government launched an ambitious initiative to establish 17 new Government Medical Colleges across the state. By the time the YSRCP government completed its tenure, construction of seven medical colleges had been completed, while five colleges had already commenced MBBS admissions.
NMC Approves 100 MBBS Seats for Piduguralla Medical College
In a significant development, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has granted approval for 100 MBBS seats to the Piduguralla Government Medical College in Palnadu district for the 2026–27 academic year. The approval is expected to bring government medical education closer to students from Palnadu and surrounding regions.
The latest development is being viewed by many as the fruition of a project initiated during the YS Jagan government.
Project Began Under the YSRCP Government
Just two months after assuming office in 2019, the YSRCP government allocated ₹200 crore in its first state budget for the establishment of a Government Medical College and Teaching Hospital in Palnadu. The government also acquired 50 acres of land for the project.
Although the construction was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, work gained momentum after the pandemic. The medical college was built alongside the national highway in Piduguralla, featuring modern infrastructure and advanced medical equipment required for a teaching hospital.
In addition to the medical college, the Central Government also approved a Government Nursing College, and its construction has also been completed.
Construction Reached 90% Before Change in Government
By June 2024, when the government changed, approximately ₹217 crore had been spent on the Piduguralla Medical College project, with nearly 90% of the construction work completed.
Following the change in administration, the coalition government proposed handing over the newly established medical colleges to private entities under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
Privatization Proposal Faced Opposition
The proposal to privatize the new government medical colleges drew strong objections from the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), which launched protests against the move.
As there was reportedly no response to the tenders invited under the PPP model, the privatization process failed to progress. Political observers also noted that YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s statement that the tenders would be cancelled and the colleges would continue under government management if he returned to power may have influenced the developments.
Admissions to Begin from 2026–27
With the NMC granting approval for 100 MBBS seats, admissions at the Piduguralla Government Medical College are now set to begin from the 2026–27 academic year.
The development is expected to create new opportunities for aspiring medical students from Palnadu district and neighboring regions, while improving access to government medical education and healthcare infrastructure. Local residents have reportedly welcomed the approval as a major milestone for the region.
