Demand for 85% reservation for candidates from Meghalaya
Shillong, June 3: Ten organisations from Garo Hills have demanded for complete government authority over the upcoming Tura Medical College (TMC) and opposed any PPP model for its functioning as planned by the state government.
“We urge the state government to cancel the PPP model and keep Tura Medical College fully public,” said a joint statement of the ten organisations.
Earlier, chief minister Conrad Sangma had clarified that TMC will remain a government institution but the private management will recruit faculty doctors for the medical college, pay their salaries and manage functioning of the college.
Citing shortage of professionals for the PPP model, Sangma had said, “Shillong Medical College could manage about 85% professionals from existing government doctors, while for Tura Medical College, it would be completely difficult to get professionals. Hence, the joint venture model is important to make the college operational.”
However, the opposing organisations have urged the government to keep the college and hospital under one authority to maintain training quality and public service.
“Do not misuse land donated by Garo community, kindly honour their contribution,” said the statement issued by Senior Citizens, Mothers’ Union, Garo Students’ Union (GSU), Federation of Khasi-Jaintia & Garo People (FKJGP), ADE, A’chik Youth Welfare Organization (AYWO), Federation for A’chik Freedom (FAF), Garoland State Movement Committee (GSMC), A’chik Consciousness Holistically Integrated Krima (ACHIK) and Post-Graduates Students Union (PGSU), NEHU Campus.
Demanding same model for both Shillong and Tura with “no biased treatment between regions”, they said, “Tura Medical College must serve the people, not private profits. We will not accept a system that compromises our youth’s future or public healthcare.”
They also opposed the 50% reservation for Meghalaya students in TMC, stating, “Meghalaya students need at least 85% seats. We do not want splitting the hospital and college between different entities which will cause conflict and confusion.”
The organisations expressed concern over patients might facing higher charges, if advanced machines are used by private partners.
However, the chief minister had earlier clarified that the state quota will have majority of the seats and the fees will be as per government criteria.
“The treatment cost at the hospital will be as per specified government rates. The fees charged from students enrolled under “management quota” will be utilised by the private entity to maintain the college,” Sangma said.
With three medical colleges functioning by next year, he said Meghalaya will overcome the shortage of doctors by 2033.
