Arunachal CM Pema Khandu felicitates 72 specialist doctors, announces new healthcare initiatives
Itanagar, August 12
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Wednesday felicitated and presented appointment orders to 72 successful candidates of the Medical Specialist Recruitment Examination-2026, describing their induction as a major step towards strengthening specialist healthcare services in the state.
Khandu said the appointment of the 72 specialist doctors, along with the recruitment of other healthcare personnel in recent years, has helped the state government substantially bridge the manpower gap in the health sector.
He said some vacancies remain, including 35 specialist doctor posts at Tomo Riba Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (TRIHMS), 61 specialist posts in government hospitals and 79 General Duty Medical Officer (GDMO) posts, which would be filled shortly.
"The induction of these specialists will enhance the availability of specialised medical services across the State, particularly benefiting people living in remote and underserved areas," Khandu said.
The Chief Minister said the government's objective was to ensure that people do not have to travel outside Arunachal Pradesh for treatment that can be provided within the state.
"Our aim should be that all kinds of treatment should be available to our people within the State," he said.
Highlighting the state's healthcare network, Khandu said Arunachal Pradesh currently has six Zonal Hospitals, 17 District Hospitals, 57 Community Health Centres, 162 Primary Health Centres and 647 Sub-Health Centres.
He stressed the need to ensure that people in remote areas have access to quality healthcare and said the government's focus was not only on expanding infrastructure but also on taking specialised healthcare to the last mile.
Khandu also highlighted the progress of TRIHMS, the state's lone medical college, which began functioning in 2017 with 50 MBBS seats. The intake was increased to 100 seats from last year, he said.
He further announced that MD and MS specialist courses would be introduced at TRIHMS shortly, strengthening postgraduate medical education and specialist manpower generation in the state.
In another major development, Khandu said the state government, in collaboration with Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, is working towards starting organ transplant facilities at TRIHMS.
The installation of an Organ Perfusion System at TRIHMS is already underway, and the facility will initially begin with kidney transplantation, he said.
Khandu also announced financial assistance under the Chief Minister's Organ Transplant Scheme (CMOTS), under which the state government will provide up to Rs 12 lakh for kidney transplants, Rs 17 lakh for bone marrow transplants and Rs 22 lakh for liver transplants.
The Chief Minister said the scheme would provide financial relief to families facing the high costs of life-saving transplant procedures.
He also said the state government is working towards establishing two more medical colleges. One is proposed at Namsai under the Public-Private Partnership mode, with construction scheduled to begin this year, while discussions are underway for a third medical college in West Kameng district.
On the recruitment process, Khandu congratulated the 72 successful candidates and appreciated the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) for conducting the examination through a transparent, merit-based and time-bound process.
The recruitment process began with an advertisement issued on April 13, 2026. Of the 117 applications received, 116 candidates qualified for the viva voce conducted from June 22 to 29, following which 72 candidates were recommended for appointment.
Linking healthcare development with the broader vision of development, Khandu said Arunachal Pradesh aims to achieve a "Viksit Arunachal" by 2047, in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a "Viksit Bharat" by 2047.
"Healthcare is one of the most significant pillars of a Viksit Arunachal. Our focus must be to build a system where our people can access quality treatment within the State itself," he said.
He urged the newly appointed doctors to uphold professionalism, empathy and accountability while serving patients across the state.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Finally, some real action on healthcare! The fact that people from remote areas won't have to travel outside the state for treatment is huge. But I hope the government also focuses on retaining these doctors in smaller districts rather than just at TRIHMS. 🤔
The collaboration with Sir Ganga Ram Hospital for organ transplants is very promising! Starting with kidney transplants and having a proper financial scheme for patients is thoughtful. Kudos to the state government for thinking about the last mile connectivity in healthcare.
Impressive to see the infrastructure expansion - 6 zonal hospitals, 17 district hospitals, and 647 sub-health centres! However, having infrastructure is one thing, but having trained staff to operate them is another. Hope the 35 vacancies at TRIHMS and 61 specialist posts are filled quickly.
This is encouraging news for the Northeast! The MD/MS courses at TRIHMS will help in creating local specialists who understand the local health challenges. Also, the transparent recruitment process by APPSC deserves appreciation.
Good to see progress, but I'm concerned about the timeline - the exam was conducted in 2026, and there are still many vacancies. The remote areas have been neglected for too long. Hopefully, these 72 doctors are deployed strategically and not all in Itanagar. Also, what about the two new medical colleges? Need more details on that.
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