The Union government has approved the setting up of two medical colleges in Odisha, said Union Health Ministry J.P. Nadda on May 17.

The Health ministry has approved two schemes of the Odisha government for the establishment of two new Government Medical Colleges in Balasore and Balangir districts with 100 seats each, for the academic year 2018-19. This was informed by Nadda in a letter to Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The letter was issued to media on May 17. The two government medical colleges will come up under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme 'Establishment of new medical colleges attached with existing District/Referral Hospitals.'

Besides, the ministry has also approved confirmation of conditional permission issued to Pandit Raghunath Murmu Medical College and Hospital in Baripada in the academic year 2017-18. It also approved renewal permission for admission of second batch at the college for the academic year 2018-19, Nadda said in the letter.