Mukul lays foundation for NE's first medical college on PPP mode

From A Correspondent

Shillong, Dec 6: After a delay of five years, Chief Minister Dr Mukul M Sangma laid the foundation stone for Shillong Medical College on public-private-partnership (PPP) mode at Reid Chest Hospital, Mawbah here on Wednesday.

Addressing the gathering and expressing his happiness at laying the foundation of the region’s first medical institution on PPP mode, Sangma said setting up infrastructure and taking up projects on PPP mode are very challenging tasks for the government as the concept of PPP model is still new for many.

The Chief Minister, however, added that the State government had successfully taken up many developmental programmes on PPP mode and hoped establishment of medical colleges in Shillong and Tura will bridge the shortage of medical professiols in Meghalaya, besides providing better healthcare facilities to the people.

He said a medical college is not only an institutiol for aspiring students who wish to become medical professiols, but also a centre with the entire wherewithal to assist the government and policy makers in respect of all challenges associated with healthcare sector. He added that medical colleges are tertiary referral centres.

“Having such medical colleges in our own state will not compel our beloved people to travel to Delhi, Vellore or Cheni for tertiary healthcare,” Sangma said. “It is not just for medical students, but for a comprehensive healthcare system that we need to put in place such institutions,” he emphasised.

Sangma said a new strategy for giving treatment has to be adopted and doctors and nurses need to equip themselves with knowledge and skill while treating and taking care of patients. He expressed hope that, with the coming up of the medical colleges in Shillong and Tura, the challenge of providing space for competent young men and women who want to become medical professiols will be addressed, while at the same time providing access to better healthcare facilities for the people.

On 2nd November 2012, the Meghalaya government had signed an agreement with KPC group to establish a 500-bedded hospital-cum-medical college in the State Capital, where 40 out of the 100 seats would be reserved for Meghalaya students.