The Directorate of Medical Education and Research came into existence independently on May 1, 1970. The Directorate manages and controls 52 institutions including 35 Government Medical Colleges, affiliated hospitals, 4 Government Dental Colleges and 13 Nursing Colleges  in the state. The major duty of this department is to impart undergraduate and postgraduate medical education to the students of Government Medical Colleges and make them socially useful doctors.

The second duty is to provide necessary facilities in these medical colleges as per the standards of Medical Council of India and to provide referral services to the patients along with maintaining the quality of education. Research on patients, diseases and related is an integral part of this department.