Shillong, Oct 26: Meghalaya has reached a major milestone with the establishment of its first private medical college – the PA Sangma International Medical College & Hospital (PIMC). And who could have known this better than man who saw it all, right from the process to establish the USTM (University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya), which has established the medical college, and the college itself being named after his father, (L) PA Sangma, and making the dream of Meghalaya having its own medical college a reality, the man is Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma himself.

“I was a part of the process in 2008 when the USTM Bill was passed and the present USTM is a testimony of team work, values and leadership,” recalled CM Sangma during the celebration of the PIMC getting NMC’s approval to start the MBBS course at the university campus in Khanapara on Saturday.

National Medical Commission (NMC) has granted PA Sangma International Medical College to start the MBBS course with an intake capacity of 150 students from the academic year 2024-25.

The establishment of PA Sangma International Medical College & Hospital is nothing short of a wonder as the time it took to begin the construction and gain the permission is very short. It was on October 3, 2022 that CM Conrad Sangma had laid the foundation stone for the PIMC. And exactly two years later, on October 3, 2024 it was announced that PIMC had received NMC’s approval to begin MBBS courses. Talk about coincidence!

At the ceremony, CM Sangma talked about his father’s vision, belief and faith in youth. “PA Sangma believed in investing in youth and that the greatest investment a government can make is in its youth because the results of such investments are unlimited,” he said.

Recalling the younger days of Late PA Sangma that he heard from his mother Soradini K Sangma, the Chief Minister said, “Lives of people like P A Sangma and Dr Don Kupar Roy can inspire younger generations and it is important that the youth today not only remember their legacy but learn from their humble beginnings and their humility and the values and the principles these leaders stood for,” he said.

He added that lives of great leaders like Late PA Sangma, Late Dr Don Kupar Roy etc. are inspirational because they have stood out against all odds and difficulties of life.

Talking about the health sector, he said the health sector in the state is a great challenge, nevertheless there have been significant improvements in the sector. “The government believes that saving even one life matters and giving the basic health services is essential, therefore, the budgetary allocation to the health sector in the state is large, making it the highest budgetary allocation in the country,” he said.

He also outlined the measures to improve the health sector in terms of infrastructure, services, equipment, human resources and their training and skilling, streamlining the supply and distribution of medicines with the help of technology etc.

Congratulating USTM on the achievement and on the growth of the university thus far, the Chief Minister said that there should be no compromise on quality and hard work and to set a benchmark for itself.

Earlier, USTM Chancellor, Mahbubul Hoque announced that a dental college will be established in the memory of former Chief Minister, Late Dr Donkupar Roy.

Students of the university also presented colourful cultural performances to mark the celebratory occasion.

Other present during the ceremony were Health Minister Dr M Ampareen Lyngdoh, Power Minister A T Mondal, Shella MLA Balajied Kupar Synrem, and Soradini K Sangma, the wife of Late P A Sangma and mother of Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma.

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