Madhya Pradesh budget 2026–27: Rs 23,747 crore allocated for health sector; new hospitals, medical colleges in focus

BHOPAL: Health services took centre stage in the Madhya Pradesh Budget 2026–27, with finance minister Jagdish Devda announcing a Rs 23,747 crore allocation for the sector here on Wednesday.

Presenting the budget in the Assembly, Devda said, “Health is the capital of humanity. Our govt is committed to strengthening services and ensuring quality treatment for every citizen.”




Madhya Pradesh now has 55 district hospitals, 158 civil hospitals, 348 community health centres, 1,442 primary health centres, and 256 sub-health centres, with a combined capacity of 48,000 beds. New district hospitals are being established in Maihar, Mauganj, and Pandhurna, while 228 maternity waiting rooms were set up for high-risk pregnant women.

Medical education saw rapid expansion: 5 new govt medical colleges opened in the past 2 years, MBBS seats rose from 2,275 to 2,850, and postgraduate seats rose from 262 to 1,468. Upgradation of colleges in Indore, Rewa, Seoni, Bhopal, Jabalpur, Sagar, and Gwalior also improved services.

The govt is exploring public-private partnerships (PPP) for new medical colleges, with contracts signed in Dhar, Baijnath, and Panna, and 9 more planned across districts. Recruitment is underway for 3,850 doctors and 1,256 nursing officers.

Under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, more than 4.46 crore cards were issued, including 15.48 lakh special cards for citizens above 70 years. The scheme is linked with 1,118 govt hospitals and 720 private hospitals, with a Rs 2,139 crore provision for 2026–27.

The budget also supports traditional medicine, with 8 new Ayurvedic colleges and hospitals being established across the state.