Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Richard Marak has called upon Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma to scrap supposed plans for private management of the Tura Government Medical College.
In a statement shared with Highland Post today, Marak stressed that the Tura Government Medical College is a critical promise to the people of Garo Hills, offering affordable healthcare and accessible medical education. As the first government medical college in Meghalaya, its significance cannot be overstated, he added.
However, with the project around 80 percent complete, an update from the CM on Tuesday has raised concerns, Marak said, due to a “vague statement” about operationalising the institute next year and a December 2025 completion target. “This ambiguity has deepened public frustration, particularly in a region where quality healthcare is expensive and geographically inaccessible,” he added.
The TMC leader emphasised that delays or diluted commitments are unacceptable, given the high stakes. “The academic session must begin by 2026 – no ifs, no buts,” Marak asserted, highlighting that every missed deadline pushes affordable care further out of reach for families already burdened by high medical costs.
Moreover, the TMC member expressed concerns over the Chief Minister’s admission of being in “talks with a private entity” to manage the hospital. This, he believes, signals a departure from public accountability and raises questions about the government’s commitment to providing affordable healthcare.
“The people were promised a government medical college – not one run by private hands with profit in mind,” Marak said, urging the CM to abandon these plans.
