Guwahati, Apr 7: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday said that the state government is committed to prioritising affordable and universal healthcare, with a strong focus on expanding medical infrastructure and nurturing healthcare professionals.

On the occasion of World Health Day, the Chief Minister took to social media platform X to express his appreciation for healthcare workers and reaffirm the government’s focus on public health. “On #WorldHealthDay, we reaffirm our deepest appreciation to all those who work hard, often beyond the call of duty, to keep our community healthy. We also reiterate our commitment to prioritise resources to build healthcare institutions, nurture healthcare professionals and universalise affordable healthcare,” Sarma said.

He informed that 23 medical colleges are currently under construction across the state, and three more—at Darang, Hojai, and Hailakandi—will be launched within the next year. Comparing this to previous governments, Sarma pointed out that Assam had only three medical colleges for a long time.

The Chief Minister also highlighted developments in higher education, stating that universities have been established or are under construction in nearly every district. “We have set up universities in Hojai, Nagaon, Cachar, Bajali, and Lakhimpur. Today, nearly every district has or will soon have a university,” he added.

In terms of infrastructure, Sarma said the government is working on building bridges across the Brahmaputra River in every district to improve connectivity and support development. “Assam is progressing at an unprecedented pace. We are on the path to becoming one of the developed states in the country,” he said.

Under welfare schemes, more than 78,000 borrowers have benefited from the state’s microfinance incentive and relief package aimed at restoring creditworthiness and ensuring financial stability.

Additionally, the government has distributed over 3.23 lakh bicycles to school students and 48,673 scooters to meritorious students across the state. Around 27,000 top-performing Class 10 students have also received cash awards under various state education schemes.