Shillong: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Sunday addressed concerns surrounding the operationalisation of Tura Medical College and Hospital, amid growing public confusion and misinformation.
He clarified that while the college will be managed through a public-private partnership (PPP), the institution will remain government-owned.
Speaking at a public gathering in Mendipathar, Sangma acknowledged the challenge of making the college functional due to a shortage of qualified medical professionals in the state.
“Recruiting professionals and doctors will be difficult,” he said, pointing to similar struggles faced in staffing Shillong Medical College.
Sangma emphasised that Tura Medical College and Hospital is and will continue to be a government property.
While the management of the medical college will be handled by a private entity, the hospital will remain under the administration of the state’s Health Department.
“The ownership of both the hospital and college remains with the government,” he reiterated.
The chief minister explained that the private partner would be brought on board to manage the academic side of the medical college, including faculty recruitment, under a joint venture model.
This collaboration, he said, is designed to ensure compliance with National Medical Commission (NMC) standards, particularly those related to faculty experience and infrastructure requirements.
To dispel fears of privatisation, Sangma assured that there is no intention to transfer full control of the institution to any private party.
Instead, the PPP framework defines limited and specific roles for the private sector, aimed at expediting the college’s operational readiness without compromising government oversight.
Regarding admissions, Sangma confirmed that the majority of MBBS seats will be reserved for students from Meghalaya under a state quota.
A smaller proportion of seats will fall under a management quota, allowing the private partner some administrative leeway.
However, all admissions—regardless of quota—will be governed by the Meghalaya Private Medical Institutions Ordinance, 2024, with fees regulated by a state-appointed Fee Regulatory Committee.
Capitation fees are strictly prohibited, and the fee structure will remain fixed for three academic years.
Financially, the private partner will pay an annual lease of Rs. 1 crore to the state for use of the government-built infrastructure.
These funds will be earmarked for the upkeep of facilities and the salaries of government staff.
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Sangma also highlighted legal safeguards in the partnership model. The management arrangement is time-bound and subject to government review.
The state retains the right to assume full operational control in the future, ensuring long-term public accountability and transparency.
The first academic session at Tura Medical College is expected to begin in 2026–2027, pending faculty appointments and compliance inspections by the NMC.
