Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah on Saturday inaugurated multiple development projects of the Assam Government in Guwahati and said the state has emerged as a major hub for critical healthcare services under the double engine government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Addressing a gathering at the event attended by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and other dignitaries, Amit Shah said the programme marked an important milestone not only for Assam but for the entire Northeast. He said that about a decade ago healthcare facilities across the Northeast were in poor condition, but sustained policy focus and investments over the past ten years have transformed the sector in Assam.
Amit Shah said the present government has built a strong healthcare ecosystem in the state by constructing modern hospitals, expanding medical education infrastructure and ensuring that people from economically weaker sections can access quality treatment. He said Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has worked to bring Assam’s healthcare system on par with developed states such as Gujarat, Maharashtra and Karnataka.
Highlighting recent initiatives, Amit Shah said the Pragjyotishpur Medical College and Hospital has been inaugurated at a cost of about ₹675 crore. Along with this, the Golaghat Cancer Centre built at a cost of ₹135 crore and the Tinsukia Cancer Centre also constructed at a cost of ₹135 crore have been inaugurated. He said the Diphu Medical College and Hospital has been developed at a cost of ₹220 crore, the Barpeta Medical College and Hospital at ₹284 crore and the Jorhat Medical College and Hospital at ₹310 crore.
In addition, the foundation stone has been laid for the Six Mile Swasthya Bhavan at a cost of ₹218 crore and the Abhayapuri District Hospital at a cost of ₹115 crore. Amit Shah said these projects represent a major push to strengthen healthcare services across the state and will help ensure that people receive treatment closer to their homes.
The Union Home Minister said the government is working towards a goal where no patient from Assam has to travel outside the state for medical treatment. He said healthcare infrastructure is being expanded across Barak Valley, Upper Assam, Central Assam and Lower Assam so that advanced medical facilities are available throughout the state.
Amit Shah said patients who earlier travelled to cities such as Chennai, Mumbai, Karnataka and Delhi for treatment will now be able to receive comprehensive care in government hospitals within Assam itself. He added that the government also aims to make Assam a destination for patients from neighbouring states in the Northeast and from West Bengal who may come to Assam for treatment.
Highlighting progress in cancer care, Amit Shah said the state is becoming a major centre for cancer treatment in the country. He recalled a conversation with the late Ratan Tata in which he had expressed concern about long waiting lists for cancer treatment at the cancer hospital of AIIMS in Delhi. He said a list of 13 locations was prepared from where cancer patients frequently travelled to Delhi for treatment, and Tata Trust subsequently played a major role in establishing cancer hospitals in those locations.
Amit Shah said that Assam will soon become the first state in the country to offer Proton Cancer Therapy in a government hospital. The advanced treatment facility, which involves an investment of about ₹400 crore, is considered one of the most sophisticated and expensive technologies used in cancer treatment.
The Union Home Minister said the government has also made significant progress in expanding medical education. He said that earlier Assam had only six medical colleges, but the number has now increased to fourteen and ten additional medical colleges are planned. Once completed, Assam will have a total of 24 medical colleges.
He said the number of MBBS seats has also increased significantly. Earlier the state had only 726 MBBS seats, but the number has now risen to 1,825 across the fourteen medical colleges currently functioning.
Amit Shah said the Assam Government provides competitive salaries to professors in medical colleges, which has encouraged many postgraduate medical students to pursue teaching careers after completing their MD. This has helped strengthen academic capacity in the state’s medical institutions.
The Union Home Minister also highlighted the expansion of cancer care facilities in the state. Earlier Assam had only two cancer care hospitals, but their number has now increased to seventeen, significantly improving access to specialized treatment.
He said healthcare coverage has also expanded through insurance schemes. The Ayushman Bharat scheme launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been complemented by a separate health scheme introduced by the Assam Government under the leadership of Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Amit Shah said the state government has mobilised Corporate Social Responsibility funds from the corporate sector to support costly medical treatments. Through this approach the government bears the cost of treatment for poor patients, ensuring that families are not burdened by high medical expenses.
He said the government’s approach is focused on ensuring that a poor child can pursue medical education, that every citizen receives proper treatment, and that no family is pushed into debt because of healthcare costs.
Amit Shah said the Government of India led by Narendra Modi has increased Assam’s health budget from ₹4,000 crore to ₹9,000 crore over the past decade and ensured that funds reach the grassroots level.
Referring to broader development initiatives, the Union Home Minister said the Prime Minister has opened new opportunities for youth in emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence, green hydrogen, green energy, semiconductors, electronic manufacturing, 5G and the upcoming 6G technology. He said these sectors will shape the direction of the global economy over the next 25 years and India has positioned itself as a key player in them.
He said a semiconductor plant has been established in Assam with an investment of ₹27,000 crore, marking a major step in strengthening the country’s electronics and semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem.
Amit Shah also referred to the world’s largest AI summit organised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi, which was attended by top corporate leaders from 80 countries and heads of state from 22 countries. He said the summit witnessed the signing of numerous MoUs along with collaborations in training and research and development.
Criticising the opposition, Amit Shah said that during the global summit an opposition party attempted to defame India. He said the opposition leader had earlier also attempted to malign India’s democratic system by staging a protest while sitting at the entrance of Parliament with tea and pakoras.
He said Parliament is the supreme institution of Indian democracy and such actions tarnish the image of the country before the world. Amit Shah said that while political opposition is an essential part of democracy, actions that harm the reputation of the country are unacceptable.
The Union Home Minister said India is entering a period of rapid transformation driven by technological innovation, expanded infrastructure and stronger institutions, and Assam is emerging as a key beneficiary of these changes.
