Panaji: Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Monday said that the announcement by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the central budget about the increase in medical seats will also benefit Goa.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters in Panaji, Rane pointed out that the Union Finance Minister, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has announced an increase of 10,000 medical seats in the next year, which will grow to 75,000 seats in the next five years.
“The Union Budget has given a thrust to medical education, which was a much-needed initiative. The minister has announced a revolution in medical education by stating that an additional 75,000 medical seats would be sanctioned,” he said.
Rane stated that Goa will also be one of the beneficiaries of this announcement, with the state expecting 100 more seats for its MBBS course.
“The Union Minister has not only announced the increase in seats but also outlined the implementation plan for it,” he said, adding that the budget reflects how PM Modi wants to steer the nation in a progressive direction.
Rane said that the announcement of Day Care Cancer Centres was the need of the hour, considering the rise in cancer cases in the country.
Speaking further, he highlighted that the focus on medical tourism will also benefit the health sector and the tourism industry. “Such initiatives will attract international travellers to Goa in a bigger way,” Rane said.