Shillong : Health Minister Wailadmiki Shylla announced on Monday that the Meghalaya government is making a renewed push to have Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurate the Shillong Medical College. Terming the institution a “big achievement” for the state, Shylla noted that the government is waiting for the current election cycle to conclude before formally approaching the Prime Minister’s Office for a date.
While two previous scheduled dates for the PM’s visit could not materialize due to unavoidable circumstances, the Health Department remains optimistic about a 2024 inauguration. “Classes for the first batch of 50 MBBS students have already commenced,” Shylla added, highlighting the urgency of the official opening.
Tura Medical College: From PPP to Government-Run
In a significant policy shift, the Minister confirmed that Tura Medical College will now be a fully government-run institution, abandoning the previously proposed Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode.
Shylla explained that the government initially opted for PPP due to the immense challenge of recruiting faculty for 150 seats. However, bowing to public demand and the precedent set by Shillong Medical College, the state decided to take full control.
”People want Tura to be a government-run medical college. As we believe government is for the people, we have decided to give it a try,” Shylla stated.
Advertisements for faculty and professors have already been floated, with the goal of operationalizing the Tura campus by the next academic season.
Infrastructure Expansion and Future Plans
Regarding the infrastructure for Shillong Medical College, the Minister revealed that multiple tenders have been issued for a “big project” building and ancillary facilities like playgrounds. Key highlights of the expansion include:
- Detailed Project Report (DPR): Expressions of interest have been called to prepare a comprehensive DPR for phased infrastructure development.
- Hospital Tie-up: Shillong Civil Hospital has already been rebranded as Shillong Medical College Hospital to facilitate mandatory clinical training.
- Land Acquisition: Thanks to a land-sharing agreement with Red Cross Meghalaya, the hospital area will be expanded to accommodate the growing needs of the college.
Addressing the prospect of advanced medical tech, Shylla stated that while “robotic surgery” remains a future goal, the current priority is infrastructure and faculty exposure. The department has already earmarked funds for professors to attend international conferences to keep pace with evolving medical technologies.