Williamnagar, May 28: The three medical colleges of Meghalaya, one already operational – USTM managed PIMC – and two others coming up – Shillong Medical College and Tura Medical College – will end the shortage of doctors in the State by 2033.

Outlining this clear vision for the state’s new medical colleges to address its persistent shortage of medical professionals, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Tuesday announced that the Shillong Medical College is poised to become operational from the current academic session, while the Tura Medical College & Hospital (TMCH) is scheduled to commence operations next year. These institutions, along with the USTM-managed PIMC, form a crucial trio that will collectively contribute to the state’s medical workforce.

Speaking at a programme in Williamnagar, he termed the medical colleges as “boon” for Meghalaya and highlighted that “the three new medical colleges, including USTM-managed PIMC, will produce doctors by 2032, and our state colleges by 2033, and we shall be able to overcome the shortage of doctors in the state.”

Addressing the operational model for TMCH, the Chief Minister clarified that it would function as a joint venture with private management. He explained that while the private entity would be responsible for recruiting faculty doctors, paying their salaries, and managing the college’s day-to-day operations, the government would retain direct control over all assets and physical infrastructure.

More importantly, the majority of seats would be allocated under the state quota, with fees adhering to government criteria. Similarly, treatment costs at the hospital would follow specified government rates. The private management would only charge fees from students enrolled under the “management quota,” utilizing these funds for college maintenance.

The necessity of this joint venture model, he said, stems from the state’s current shortage of qualified professionals to teach in medical colleges. “Shillong Medical College could manage about 85 percent of professionals from existing government doctors, while for Tura Medical College, it would be completely difficult to get professionals,” he highlighted and clarified the reasons for the need of a collaborative approach to make the college operational at the earliest as well as achieving the broader goal of medical self-sufficiency.

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