Shillong, April 12: As Russia continues it’s aggression in Ukraine, many Indian medical students are either left stranded in neighbouring countries or have been brought back to India. Having to stop their studies midway due to the ongoing war, students who have returned from Ukraine are in lurch over their future.

With the number of medical students returning to India, it has also made the government realise the demand for medical studies in the country and how severely inadequate are the seats. At the same time, the demand for setting up more and more medical colleges in every state of the country is increasing.

While nothing has been officially announced on measures to accomode the returnee medical students, there are talks of possibility of a bridge program or for enrolment of these students in Indian medical colleges, but everything is still up in the air.

For the North East, which is practically devoid of medical colleges except for Assam, there are major concerns on accommodating these students and also for aspiring medical students. The students from the region face great challenges when trying to get admission into medical colleges in other parts of the country.

Talking about Meghalaya, no medical college has been built even after 50 years of statehood, while the government is trying.

At the same time, USTM has been making efforts to establish a medical college in the state for 4 years. A proposed place for setting up a medical college from USTM is already present but due the lack of funds, process has been slow.

Chancellor of USTM, Mahbubul Hoque, shared that a huge investment is required to set up a Medical College and Hospital. Steps have been taken from his side and a proposal has been made to the Meghalaya government in this regard.

Haque also expressed that the college and hospital to be built should be at the level of Apollo Hospitals. The proposed hospital would have 50 percent Charity beds for poor patients and around 100 percent Northeast students would be admitted in it.

He added that it would be a joint venture for everyone to benefit from. Moreover, their effort will not only be for a medical college, but also a research centre so that the country and the world can benefit from it.