Alva’s Medical College Inaugurated in Moodbidri; Dakshina Kannada Eyes Medical Hub Status

Alva’s Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, popularly known as Alva’s Medical College, was formally inaugurated at the Smt. Shobha Mohan Alva Campus in Mijar, Moodbidri, on September 21. Union Minister for Education and Consumer Affairs Pralhad Joshi inaugurated the institution, which marks Alva’s Education Foundation’s entry into medical education.

The new institution has received approval from the National Medical Commission (NMC) for 150 MBBS seats for the 2026–27 academic year. Of these, 54 seats are available for Tulu-speaking minority students, opening another avenue for medical education for students from the coastal region.

The campus has been developed with modern classrooms, laboratories, an auditorium and a round-the-clock library, along with facilities designed to support contemporary medical education. The existing Alva’s Health Centre, a 650-bed multispecialty hospital, is expected to provide extensive clinical exposure to students, with the institution also planning a separate 650-bed hospital at Mijar in the future.

Speaking at the inauguration, Pralhad Joshi said Dakshina Kannada has the potential to emerge as a global medical hub, pointing to India’s growing healthcare workforce and the international reputation of Indian doctors and nurses. He also said the formal process for granting deemed university status to Alva’s could be completed within a month after the required clarifications are addressed.

Alva’s Education Foundation President Dr. M. Mohan Alva expressed gratitude to those who supported the establishment of the medical institution. With plans for expanded healthcare facilities, medical research and specialised treatment centres, the new medical college is set to add another major institution to Dakshina Kannada’s growing education and healthcare landscape.