Staff Reporter

Shillong, Sept 19: Over 443 medical students and doctors sponsored by the State government have failed to join the state health services.

This was informed by the Minister in charge of Health & Family Welfare Ampareen Lyngdoh while replying to a starred question tabled in the Assembly today.

She said the reasons that the sponsored medical students and doctors by the government have not joined the state health services are: “pursuing of post-graduate studies directly after completion of MBBS studies, students who have completed compulsory internship are required to serve compulsory bond in their respective place/state of study and student pursuing senior resident doctor (SRD).”

Lyngdoh informed that the total number of medical students belonging to the unreserved or general category who have been sponsored by the government to pursue medical studies till date is 237 (batch 1995-96 to 2023-24)

Out of this, only 12 (from the batch 1995-96 to 2017-18) have joined the state health services while 147 have refused to join, she added.

On the steps taken by the government to ensure sponsored doctors do serve the state, Lyngdoh said the government is executing a bond agreement and notices have been served to the MBBS students who have not reported/not joined with effect from 1995-1996 to 2012-2013.

Meanwhile, the minister informed that around 400 doctors have been recruited by the Meghalaya Medical Services Recruitment Board (MMSRB) in its first recruitment drive.

“In the second round around 50 specialists and 70 medical officers will be recruited,” she said.

She said that the total number of medical students sponsored by the government in different medical colleges of the country is 1,650 (batch 1995-96 to 2023-24).

Of these, only 948 have joined the state health services, she added.

The District Medical & Health Officer of East Khasi Hills Dr A Lyngdoh has admitted that there is shortage of medicines at present due to a transition of procurement of drugs in the state.

This was stated in an action taken report in connection with the treatment of typhoid fever cases at Shella PHC and Ichamati CHC sent to the HYC general secretary Roykupar Synrem here.

This came after the HYC had written to the DM&HO for providing adequate medicines in the two health centres for the treatment of typhoid fever and to conduct investigation into the causes of such disease.

“There is a shortage of medicines at present since there is a transition of procurement of drugs from the state to the newly constituted corporation viz Meghalayan Medical Drugs & Services Limited (MMDSL). We are hereby submitting to the DHS (MI)/MMDSL the list of drugs that are required to combat the current crisis,” Dr Lyngdoh said in the action taken report.

She also informed that a team from the IDSP cell will be visiting Shella on April 28, to conduct an investigation for verification of the cases and identifying the source of illness.

A letter has been issued to all facilities including Shella & Ichamati to conduct awareness programmes on the symptoms, causes, treatment and prevention of the diseases, Dr Lyngdoh added.

The three-day-long 7th North East Graduate Congress (NEGC)-2023 has successfully concluded today at the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM) with the participation of more than 10,000 college students from various colleges of the eight northeastern states of India.

Among the various competitions, the Best Performing College award went to Sibsagar College, while Kampur College won the Best Magazine prize. The Best Debater award went to Saphira Magdaline Lyngdoh from St Anthony’s College, Shillong, and the winner of the Cultural Procession was Mayong Ancholik College.

A total of 46 competitions in various sports, cultural, literary and start-up categories, as well as sessions on competitive examinations, personality development and a job fair took place in this mega youth event. Attractive awards worth Rs 50 lakh, including two-wheelers, laptops, tablets, mobile phones and cash prizes were awarded to the winners of different competitions.

Addressing a large gathering of students and teachers, Mahbubul Hoque, Chancellor of USTM, said, “We have been organising NEGC to benefit the region’s youths by helping them set their vision so that they can shoulder responsibilities and contribute to nation-building.” NEGC is the most acclaimed flagship programme of USTM that aims to inculcate the spirit of competitiveness, regional integrity, social harmony and brotherhood among the youth, he added.

To provide the best employment opportunities to the educated youths of the region, a mega job fair was also organized for the NEGC participants. More than 500 Graduates from various institutions participated in the Job Fair. Companies such as Bajaj Allianz, Reliance Jio, Kotak Life Insurance, CavinKare, Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail, MGT Motors Pvt. Ltd were a part of the Job Fair to recruit the youths. Around 150 students have been shortlisted for different positions from technical to non-technical profiles.

A spectacular view of the rich cultural mosaic of the North East was showcased by thousands of the youth from different colleges of the eight states of the region at the playground of USTM. The inaugural ceremony of NEGC-2023 was witnessed by a galaxy of prominent personalities ranging from youth icons, academia, politicians, cultural and sports icons, motivational speakers, principals of various colleges, faculty members and many students.

In this 7th edition of NEGC, various co-curricular activities were organised. The cultural competitions include cultural showcasing, skit, group song, group dance, on-the-spot painting, mehendi, cartooning, photography and rongoli. The sports competitions are volleyball, kabaddi, chess, arm wrestling, powerlifting, badminton, basketball, and horse riding. The literary competitions include debate, quiz and start-up.