Mukul slams Govt over ‘missed opportunity’ for medical colleges

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaSeptember 4, 2025

Leader of Opposition Mukul Sangma has criticized the incumbent government for failing to utilize sanctions for establishing medical colleges in Meghalaya, beyond the Tura Medical College.

Sangma told reporters on Wednesday that the government’s inaction has resulted in missed opportunities, particularly in Ri Bhoi, which is now ineligible for government assistance due to the presence of a private medical college courtesy of USTM.

He expressed regret that the government did not pursue additional medical colleges in other districts before the USTM medical college came up, which has now blocked Ri Bhoi’s eligibility.

“Actually, in addition to Tura medical college, we have got some sanction but we have failed because of the incumbent government. Now, is Ri Bhoi eligible now? No more because you already have a private hospital and medical college already coming up courtesy USTM. You have blocked your own way. Before USTM, we should have asked the government of India to provide that kind of assistance for Meghalaya in other districts where we are yet to have a medical college. Now Ri Bhoi is deprived of that assistance because of USTM medical college,” Sangma stated.

Citing examples of Assam and West Bengal’s success in establishing multiple medical colleges with similar funding, Sangma said, “We have delayed too long. Other than Tura Medical College, we should have had some more medical colleges like other states. You look at how many medical colleges the Assam government has landed, established with the same fund sanctioned by the government of India. Similarly, you see West Bengal batch after batch with the same assistance to the state for establishment of medical colleges with your civil hospital or government hospital as attached teaching hospitals for the medical colleges.”

The former chief minister suggested that Jaintia Hills is now another eligible district and said, “The state government should pursue with the Government of India (for medical college sanction).”

He also urged the state government to resolve the issue related to the Tura Medical College.

Terming the recent NMC’s approval for starting the Shillong Medical College as a significant achievement, the leader of opposition however asked the government to ensure that the college meets all the necessary criteria and standards set by the National Medical Commission (NMC) to avoid any surprises or deficiencies that might affect students.

“In as far as the Shillong Medical College is concerned, it is definitely an achievement but the government must do it properly so that there is no element of surprises that should await the students. There should be complete clarity about all the fulfilment of the criteria as per the checklist so that as the academic session starts after the national medical commission (NMC) comes and do the auditing to verify whether the medical college is fulfilling all the criteria in sync with all the checklist which is provided to the state,” he said.

“See that nothing happens in terms of any element of surprise which would reflect any deficiency thereby creating a little bit of confusion for the students whoever are given the seats. I am sure once the academic session starts, they will allot the seats as out of 50 seats there is a formula. So all the students, whoever are pursuing their studies in medical courses, must be able to have that comfort psychologically, mentally and see that the academic session starts without any hiccups,” he further asserted.