The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur is gearing up to introduce its first-ever Doctor of Medicine (MD) programme, marking a major milestone in its journey toward integrating medical science and technology. The initiative follows the institute’s successful approval from the National Medical Commission (NMC), paving the way for IIT Kharagpur’s formal entry into postgraduate medical education in India.
IIT Kharagpur MD Programme: A New Era in Medical-Technology Integration
According to reports, IIT Kharagpur’s Board of Governors has already approved the proposal for the MD course. All formalities and documentation have been completed, and the institute will submit its official application to the NMC as soon as the registration portal opens.
IIT Kharagpur Director Suman Chakraborty said that the institute’s vast pool of healthcare researchers, practising doctors, and biomedical engineers provides a strong foundation for launching this innovative programme. “Considering the availability of doctors, medical experts, and specialists in healthcare technology research at IIT Kharagpur, a postgraduate medical programme would be an appropriate step for the institute,” he stated.
This MD programme aims to bridge the gap between medical education, clinical practice, and cutting-edge technological research, strengthening the institute’s vision of advancing medical innovation through technology.
Seat Intake and Training Centres
An institute official revealed that the MD programme will likely offer 20 seats in its first academic cycle. The Dr BC Roy Medical College, named after Bengal’s first Chief Minister who donated land for the establishment of India’s first IIT, will serve as the academic training hub for the course.
Clinical training for MD students will take place at the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (SPMSH), situated adjacent to the IIT Kharagpur campus. While SPMSH operates under IIT Kharagpur’s governance, its hospital wing functions independently, offering comprehensive medical services to patients.
Expansion of Inpatient Facilities at SPMSH
In preparation for the upcoming MD programme, SPMSH has significantly upgraded its medical infrastructure. The hospital, which initially offered outpatient services, has recently expanded to include inpatient facilities and an advanced operating theatre.
As per reports, the hospital recently conducted its first surgical procedure, led by senior surgeon Dr RK Behera, marking a new phase in its clinical capabilities. The successful surgery, performed to remove a foreign object, demonstrated the hospital’s readiness for full-fledged medical training.
Director Chakraborty highlighted that the operational theatre’s activation and inpatient expansion are essential steps toward transforming the facility into a 220-bed Mission Mode IPD hospital, capable of providing world-class healthcare to students, faculty, staff, and the local community.
MBBS Programme Deferred for Now
While the MD course moves forward, IIT Kharagpur’s earlier plan to introduce an undergraduate MBBS programme has been deferred due to ongoing infrastructure developments.
Last year, the institute announced its ambition to launch the MBBS course from 2024 under the BC Roy Institute of Medical Science and Technology, integrating medical education with engineering and technological disciplines. The proposed programme planned for an intake of 100 students, pending approval from the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, and NMC.
The launch of the MD programme at IIT Kharagpur represents a visionary step toward medical-technology convergence in India’s higher education landscape. With a focus on research-driven clinical training, innovation, and interdisciplinary learning, IIT Kharagpur is set to redefine postgraduate medical education and contribute to the future of healthcare innovation.
