Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Dr Mukul Sangma has called on the people of Meghalaya to resist the privatisation of Tura Medical College, warning that such a move would be disastrous for the state.
The college, the first state government medical institute in the state, is nearing completion but the TMC is fearful that a privatised college or one run on a public-private partnership (PPP) model would not be in the interest of Meghalayans.
In a strong statement today, Dr Sangma urged the ruling National People’s Party (NPP)-led government to withdraw its decision to operate Tura Medical College under a PPP model, warning that such a move could lead to long-term socioeconomic consequences for the state.
Calling upon the people of Meghalaya to “join hands” in resisting what he termed a “privatisation spree,” Dr Sangma said the government’s plan was a “precursor to disaster” and a direct threat to employment opportunities and social security, particularly for the youth.
“I have seen how brilliantly the expression of interest (EOI) has been scripted to attract private players. But these are only precursors to future disasters,” he said. “This approach will only exacerbate unemployment and create lasting instability for our young generation.”
Dr Sangma, a former Chief Minister, emphasised that the medical college must remain a fully government-owned and operated institution. “No PPP, no privatisation,” he declared, urging the government to abandon its current course and proceed with establishing the Tura Medical College as a public institution.
He also expressed deep concern over the impact of privatisation on job security and public health access. “When it is a government medical college, every post filled will be a government job. Every seat will be available to our aspiring youth. This ensures social security. In the private sector, it’s hire and fire – no such security exists.”
Criticising the government’s broader privatisation agenda, Sangma warned of setting a dangerous precedent. “Once you open the door through PPP, eventually it will be fully privatised. We must not assume that future policymakers won’t act on such malafide intentions. This will normalise what should be considered an abnormal approach to governance.”
He also highlighted the increasing cost of healthcare and the urgent need for government medical institutions to act as affordable tertiary referral centres. “Two-thirds of the patients admitted in our civil hospitals are referred outside the state due to lack of facilities. Healthcare is becoming unaffordable for our people. A government medical college is essential to reverse this trend.”
Dr Sangma announced his intention to organise protests and public discussions if the government refuses to reconsider its decision. “We are not slaves,” he said, referring to the treatment of youth employed under contract. “We are all servants of the people, but not slaves. I will be protesting. I will engage with the people, and if the government doesn’t respond, we will be compelled to act.”
He explained that it was during his tenure that Meghalaya actively engaged with the central government to seek assistance for establishing medical colleges, particularly in districts where no such institutions existed. The plan was rooted in the understanding that the state lacked the financial resources to set up such colleges independently. Following extensive deliberations with the erstwhile Planning Commission and relevant central ministries, a scheme was eventually rolled out, thanks to the positive response from the then Union Health Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad.
Initially, options like the PPP model were examined, but after thorough due diligence, Dr Sangma’s government concluded that such models were unsuitable for fulfilling the state’s healthcare goals. “The moment you alienate key public health infrastructure to private entities, it creates barriers to affordable healthcare access,” he said.
Dr Sangma also recalled that while the Shillong Medical College project was first conceptualised under a PPP model, the Tura Medical College plan evolved with the understanding that central assistance would allow it to remain government-operated. The aim was to use existing state infrastructure, such as district and civil hospitals, for teaching purposes to reduce the need for fresh capital expenditure.
