IIT Kharagpur sets up school for training youth in allied health sciences

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur has set up a healthcare training centre – School for Skills: Healthcare and Technology – on the campus. The centre will train youth from rural and semi-urban areas in allied health sciences to strengthen India’s healthcare system.

Initially, the IIT will offer short-term certificate courses to 150 students, such as general duty assistant, emergency medical technician – basic, and phlebotomist. The courses will be aligned with the National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF).

The inaugural batch will start in November 2025 while the institute plans to expand course offerings in the coming years. The initiative is expected to generate employment in the health sector, empower women, uplift economically weaker sections, and strengthen community resilience, the institute said.

The learners will get certifications from the healthcare sector skill council after completing the programmes affiliated with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. The trained professionals will have to serve at the patient care at the Syama Prasad Mukerji Super-Speciality Hospital at IIT Kharagpur as well as other healthcare institutions.

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Moreover, a section of trainees will participate in field trials and validation of healthcare technologies developed at the institute for systematic generation of health data in rural regions of West Bengal and beyond.

Suman Chakraborty, director, IIT KGP said, “The School for Skills: Healthcare & Technology at IIT Kharagpur is more than a training hub — it is a catalyst for change. By combining skill development with cutting-edge technology, we aim to build a healthcare workforce that can serve the last mile, transform rural healthcare delivery, and contribute to the nation’s vision of inclusive growth.”