The state government today sought to allay fears regarding the supposed privatisation of the under construction Tura Medical College but also confirmed that there will be a private player involved in the running of the institute.
The opposition Trinamool Congress (TMC), among others, had raised the spectre of privatisation, claiming that it would go against the interest of the people of Meghalaya to have a private entity deeply involved in the running of what is meant to be the state’s first government-run medical college.
The fears expressed by the TMC include that the college will be run for profit and that will result in higher fees, fewer places for local students and contractual teaching positions.
Today Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said that the college would face recruitment challenges in terms of attracting professionals and doctors due to a shortage of qualified personnel in Meghalaya.
Addressing a gathering at Mendipathar, Sangma said that the college-cum-hospital will remain “government property” while the management of the college will be by a private entity.
“The majority of seats in the college will be reserved for Meghalaya students, while a few seats will be allotted to the private management, enabling them to manage the administration and salaries of the medical college faculty. The hospital will function as a government entity,” the CM said. “State students studying at the college will be under the state quota, while certain seats will be under the management quota, which will be managed by the private management.”
Sangma also clarified that there is no intention to hand over the complete management and administration of Tura Medical College to any private entity. All fees – even for management quota seats – will be regulated under the Meghalaya Private Medical Institutions Ordinance 2024 and monitored by the Fee Regulatory Committee. The agreed fee structure will be in place for three years before being reviewed.
He also informed that managing a medical college requires strict adherence to National Medical Commission (NMC, formerly Medical Council of India) guidelines, including having faculty with the required experience. Given the current lack of specialists in government-managed hospitals and shortage of professionals from the state, as has been faced while recruiting for Shillong Medical College, the government will operationalise the Tura Medical College as a “joint venture” between the government and the selected private partner, with limited and defined roles.
This public-private partnership (PPP) model is exactly what is being opposed by the TMC, which has called on the public to join it in opposing the move. The private partner will pay an annual lease of Rs 1 crore to the state government for use of the infrastructure. This will be “ring-fenced for salaries and upkeep of government staff and facilities”. However, this is unlikely to mollify the TMC, which will no doubt fear how the private partner will be able to meet this financial requirement without hurting patients or staff.
The government is targetting 2026-27 for the first academic session of the medical college, with all NMC compliances, faculty appointments and inspections scheduled accordingly.
