On October 4, 2026, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu announced significant developments in the state's medical education sector during an inauguration ceremony at the Ramakrishna Mission Hospital in Itanagar. He disclosed that the state has granted in-principle approval for two new colleges to be established in Aalo and Narottam Nagar, marking a vital step toward expanding healthcare education in the region. Additionally, he noted that the number of MBBS seats at the Tomo Riba Institute of Health & Medical Sciences (TRIHMS) has increased from 50 to 100 over the past two years [1].

Khandu's remarks are quite notable within the context of Arunachal Pradesh's education and health policy. The Directorate of Medical Education, Training & Research is the official body responsible for overseeing medical education in the state. According to the state's documentation, TRIHMS is regarded as Arunachal Pradesh's first medical college, solidifying its central role in the medical education landscape [2].

The commitment to increasing MBBS seats is consistent with previous announcements from the state health ministry. Specifically, the health minister's program page confirms that TRIHMS has been approved for 100 MBBS seats by the National Medical Commission (NMC). Documentation detailing the seat matrix for the 2024-25 academic cycle shows this figure of 100 seats, further corroborating the state’s assertions [3].

Khandu also shared plans for future expansions in medical education during his address. He mentioned that another medical college is under consideration in Namsai, while a third college is being planned for the West Kameng-Tawang region, with development projected under a public-private partnership model. Earlier reports from July 18, 2026, similarly highlighted that TRIHMS' seats had doubled and that new medical colleges were in the pipeline for Pasighat, Namsai, and West Kameng, indicating an ongoing commitment to enhancing medical education rather than isolated approvals [1].

In essence, Khandu’s statements on October 4 reaffirm the state’s efforts to boost medical education, with TRIHMS now hosting 100 MBBS students. The plans for additional medical colleges in Aalo and Narottam Nagar, along with proposals for other locales, represent a sustained initiative to strengthen healthcare training and resources across Arunachal Pradesh [1].

Sources

Researched and edited with AI assistance.

Featured image: AI-generated representative image.