Shillong, Dec 7: The Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government has taken up an initiative to mitigate shortage of specialist doctors in the State.

Towards this effect, the State cabinet on Monday approved the Health department’s proposal for establishing a PG diploma training course for MBBS doctors for undergoing a course, which is below the specialist level.

Addressing media persons after the cabinet meeting, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said, “There is a proposal from the health department for creation of a special training to the MBBS physician where they can be called specialists.”

The course will be for 2 years duration.

Pertinently, Meghalaya is grappling with an acute shortage of Doctors as the need for strengthening Health infrastructure is felt owing to the present situation.

Tynsong said, “There is a shortage of specialist doctors as on today the shortage is not less than 121 numbers of specialist doctors.”

Informing that the government will be setting up the recognised training center, Tynsong said, “With this initiative taken by the Government, after two years, we will be able to have our own specialists maybe 20-30 according to the academic year and within no time we will not have a shortage of specialist doctors.”