The establishment of the West Bengal University of Health Sciences (WBUHS), the state's sole institution of its kind, was a realization of a collective desire among medical professionals and students. Previously, various state universities oversaw medical education at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. This decentralized supervision resulted in significant inconsistencies in teaching quality, evaluation standards, and the overall recognition of medical graduates, creating a significant deadlock in the system.
To address these critical issues and achieve uniformity in medical training, all key stakeholders advocated strongly for a single, centralized governing body.
Responding to this compelling need, the West Bengal University of Health Sciences, Kolkata, was formed under the 'West Bengal Act. XIII of 2002'. The corresponding Act was officially gazetted on August 1, 2002, and the University officially began its operations on January 1, 2003, marking its beginning as the dedicated center for health sciences higher education in the state.
Since its founding, WBUHS has demonstrated unprecedented growth. Despite its relative youth, the number of affiliated courses, the student body, and the demand for institutional association have all expanded rapidly. Even while navigating challenging times and operating with limited resources, WBUHS has successfully worked to enforce consistent, high standards across all medical education in West Bengal. Looking ahead, the University is committed to leveraging its past experience to meet the future demands of a growing population seeking medical education, serving both the state and the nation.
