Gorakhpur: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Gorakhpur’s Charitable Blood Centre and highlighted the transformation of healthcare facilities in eastern Uttar Pradesh. He said encephalitis, once a major health challenge in the region, had been eliminated, drawing a comparison with the eradication of mafia activities and mosquitoes.
Addressing the inauguration ceremony at Seth Badri Prasad Jaiswal Memorial Hall in Taramandal, the Chief Minister said modern infrastructure, medicines and technology could be arranged, but blood could not be manufactured. He described blood donation as an expression of compassion through which one person can give a new lease of life to another.
Adityanath said the IMA had demonstrated its social responsibility by establishing a charitable blood centre after running a free outpatient department in Gorakhpur. The new facility is expected to support patients in need of blood across eastern Uttar Pradesh.
The Chief Minister recalled the earlier condition of BRD Medical College, where multiple patients were reportedly admitted on a single bed and basic facilities were inadequate. He said the institution had since developed into a major centre for super-speciality treatment and the management of encephalitis and other diseases.
He also highlighted the expansion of medical education and healthcare infrastructure across the state. According to him, medical colleges have been established in several districts, while MBBS seats have increased from around 4,600 to more than 13,500. He said postgraduate medical education, nursing and paramedical training were also being expanded.
Referring to the security situation in the past, Adityanath said doctors in Gorakhpur had earlier faced abductions, extortion demands, threats and assaults. He said the situation had changed and that doctors, traders and citizens across the state now felt more secure.
The Chief Minister also mentioned the development of AIIMS Gorakhpur and the expansion of healthcare services in the region. He referred to facilities such as blood separation, apheresis and dialysis at Guru Gorakhnath Hospital, adding that free dialysis services had also been introduced in district hospitals.
He said the state was working towards developing Centres of Excellence in healthcare, including a MedTech Centre of Excellence with the support of IIT Kanpur and initiatives at SGPGI.
Appeal for Voluntary Blood Donation
Adityanath urged doctors and the public to participate in voluntary blood donation campaigns, noting that blood supply often failed to match demand. He called for awareness drives through social media and cautioned against professional blood donors, citing the risk of infections if unsafe practices were not controlled.
Before the inauguration, the Chief Minister inspected the modern equipment installed at the blood centre and sought information from doctors about blood collection, testing and other operations. He later unveiled the foundation plaque and formally inaugurated the facility.
During the visit, Adityanath also interacted with a young girl present on the premises, asking about her well-being and blessing her.
IMA Highlights Healthcare Expansion
IMA Gorakhpur president Dr R.P. Shukla welcomed the Chief Minister and other guests. He said the new charitable blood centre would strengthen healthcare services and help ensure blood availability for patients in need.
Shukla said Gorakhpur was developing into a healthcare hub following the establishment of AIIMS and the expansion of medical facilities. He also highlighted progress in the treatment of tuberculosis and cancer, as well as the availability of advanced diagnostic services, robotic surgery and organ transplantation in government hospitals.
MLA Vipin Singh said Gorakhpur had witnessed a significant change in its security environment and healthcare infrastructure. He noted that patients from eastern Uttar Pradesh, Nepal and Bihar were increasingly visiting the city for treatment.
Mayor Dr Manglesh Srivastava said the inauguration of the IMA blood centre fulfilled a long-standing demand and expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister for supporting the initiative.
The ceremony was attended by Mayor Dr Manglesh Srivastava, MLC Dr Dharmendra Singh, MLAs Vipin Singh, Pradeep Shukla and Vimlesh Paswan, State Women’s Commission vice-president Charu Chaudhary, BJP district president Janardan Tiwari, IMA office-bearers and a large number of doctors.
