The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a USD 398.8 million financing aimed at improving Assam's healthcare and medical education systems, representing one of the largest investments in the state's tertiary healthcare infrastructure.

Under the Assam State Tertiary Health Care Augmentation Project, the government is undertaking a major modernisation drive to transform Gauhati Medical College and Hospital into a super-speciality centre, while upgrading Assam Medical College in Dibrugarh and Silchar Medical College. Together, these institutions will anchor a network of centres of excellence (CoE) under the Srimanta Sankaradeva University of Health Sciences.

The initiative prioritises climate-resilient, gender-responsive infrastructure, digital hospital systems, and modernised medical education—spanning smart classrooms, simulation-based training, and curriculum reforms that integrate gender and climate considerations. As ADB Country Director Mio Oka noted, “Assam’s health system faces critical gaps, with high maternal and infant mortality and severe shortages in tertiary care.” The project aims to enhance tertiary care quality, strengthen human resources through improved training, and reinforce state capacity for research, partnerships, and continuous learning—positioning Assam as an accessible and affordable regional medical hub.