Shillong, Oct 8: Tura Medical College is 84 per cent physically complete, but its operationalisation remains held back by severe shortage of teaching faculty, the Health & Family Welfare Department said.
Officials informed that the 80-bedded and 150-bedded hospital blocks within Tura Civil Hospital campus stand at 55 per cent and 25 per cent respectively.
Hostels and Type-5 staff quarters at Doldagre are likely to be completed by December 31, 2026, academic block by March 31, 2027 and remaining quarters by June 30, 2027. The 80-bedded block is expected by Dec 31, 2026 and the 150-bedded block by June 30, 2027.
Despite three rounds of advertisements and five months of efforts with doctors serving in Garo Hills, shortage against 97 faculty posts prescribed by NMC for 50 MBBS seats stands at 86 per cent for Professors, 85 per cent for Associate Professors, 52 per cent for Senior Residents and 36 per cent for Assistant Professors, the department said.
Many mapped in-service doctors are posted in PHCs, Health & Wellness Centres and hospitals outside West Garo Hills, and redeployment cannot disrupt services elsewhere.
During a review meeting chaired by Health Commissioner & Secretary Dr Joram Beda and newly appointed Director of Health Services (Medical Education & Research) Dr. Baladalin Lyngdoh yesterday, officials noted that for each year the college remains non-functional, a full batch of MBBS seats is lost.
The Centre had sanctioned 150 seats, but the State is yet to meet faculty norms even for 50 seats.
Dr Beda said state quota seats will be offered at the same fee as Shillong Medical College — Rs 33,000 per annum, Tura Civil Hospital will continue under Government control, and the Academic & Administrative Block at Doldagre will remain under 100 per cent government ownership.
