Tura Medical College: Govt property but management will be private: Conrad
CM yet to reveal who is the private entity
Shillong, May 26: Chief Minister Conrad Sangma admitted private participation in running Tura medical college after criticism by Leader of Opposition Mukul Sangma.
There is a challenge in operationalising the Tura Medical College and Hospital, as availability of professionals and doctors for the college will be difficult due to lack of qualified experts within the state, Conrad said.
Addressing a gathering at Mendipathar on Monday, the chief minister said that the government would like to clarify that the Tura Medical College and Hospital will remain a “government property,” while the management of the college will be by a private entity.
“The majority of seats in the college will be reserved for Meghalaya students, while a few seats will be allotted to the private management, enabling them to manage the administration and salaries of the medical college faculty. The hospital will function as a government entity”, the chief minister said.
“State students studying at the college will be under the “state quota,” while certain seats will be under the “management quota”, which will be managed by the private management”, he informed.
The chief minister also clarified that there is no intention to hand over the complete management and administration of Tura Medical College and Hospital to any private entity.
“The management of the medical college will be with private sector entity, while the ownership of the hospital and college will remain with the government”, he said.
He also informed that managing a medical college requires strict adherence to Medical Council guidelines, including having faculty with the required experience. Given the current lack of specialists in government-managed hospitals, and shortage of professionals from the state as has been faced while recruiting for Shillong Medical College, the government will operationalise the Tura Medical College as a “joint venture” between the government and the selected private partner, with limited and defined roles.
The govt clarification below
1. Ownership and Governance
The Tura Medical College and Hospital is and will remain a Government property. The land, infrastructure, and physical assets are fully owned by the Government of Meghalaya.
The Hospital will continue to function under the direct administration of the State Health Department, maintaining full government oversight in day-to-day operations.
2. Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Model
To ensure the timely and effective operationalisation of the medical college—particularly in light of faculty shortages and non-availability of qualified medical professionals within the state—a Private Sector Entity (PSE) will be on board only for operational management of the academic portion of the medical college under a PPP framework.
The college is not being handed over to any private entity in totality. It will operate as a Joint Venture (Special Purpose Vehicle) between the Government and the selected private partner, with limited and defined roles.
3. Faculty and Human Resource Challenges
As illustrated by the experience of Shillong Medical College, there is an acute shortage of qualified faculty in the government system despite repeated advertisements.
Under the PPP model, the PSE will help recruit faculty that meets the National Medical Commission (NMC)’s Teaching Experience Qualification (TEQ) norms, ensuring academic functionality and quality.
4. Admission Structure and Seat Allocation
A majority of the MBBS seats will be reserved for students from Meghalaya under the “State Quota”, thereby safeguarding educational access for local aspirants.
A limited Management Quota will be available, which allows the private partner some flexibility to ensure sustainability and efficient administration. However, all fees—even for management quota seats—will be regulated under the Meghalaya Private Medical Institutions Ordinance, 2024, and monitored by the Fee Regulatory Committee.
5. Financial and Legal Safeguards
The PSE will pay an annual lease rental of Rs 1 crore to the State Government for use of the infrastructure. This will be ring-fenced for salaries and upkeep of government staff and facilities.
There will be no capitation fees and the approved fee structure will remain valid for three academic years, ensuring predictability and affordability for students.
6. Exit Clause and Government Oversight
The O&M arrangement is time-bound, not perpetual. The Government reserves the right to review and, if required, fully take over operations in the future when conditions permit.
This ensures continued public accountability, transparency, and ownership while leveraging private expertise in the interim.
The first academic session is currently targeted for 2026–2027, with all NMC compliances, faculty appointments, and inspections scheduled accordingly.
