Staff Reporter

Shillong, April 21: Nongpoh MLA, Mayralborn Syiem has opined that Ri-Bhoi district which has been included as an ‘Aspirational District’ by the Central government is eligible to have a medical college.
He told reporters that it would be a benefit for the state to have as many medical colleges, and the proposed medical college can be established in Ri-Bhoi district, being an aspirational district

“We don’t have medical colleges in the state so far, though one medical college will come up at Tura and another in the state capital, Shillong. We shall pursue with the NITI Aayog through the state government so that a medical college in Ri-Bhoi is established with the support of the Central government,” the Nongpoh MLA said.

Syiem is also the Chairman of the Health Advisory Board. Asked about the lack of doctors and teachers who will teach in medical colleges of the state when completed, Syiem admitted that the state has to prepare by sending more people for further studies in the field of medical so that when the medical colleges are ready, they can be engaged without depending much on people from outside.

On shortage of manpower in health services and shortage of medicines in healthcare centres, Syiem said that these concerns have been there, and as the Chairman of Health Advisory Board, he would take up the matter at his level and work together with the Health Minister to address the problems.
He lauded the government for appointing doctors to serve in various hospitals and healthcare centres for the benefit of the people especially in rural health centres.

“The state government has set up a body for indent, supply, maintenance, and disposal of drugs/medicines in the state, and we will try to address the problems,” Syiem said.

The State government has decided to set up the Meghalaya Medical Drugs and Services Limited (MMDSL) to address the problems related to the non-availability of essential drugs/medicines in hospitals and health centres across the state.