No proposal for medical college in Jaintia Hills: Meghalaya Health Minister

Meghalaya- Responding to a question raised by UDP MLA Nujorki Sungoh, Meghalaya Health Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh informed the Assembly about no proposal to set up a medical college in Jaintia Hills.

At the recent Meghalaya Assembly session, Meghalaya Nujorki Sungoh, UDP MLA from Mukaiav, expressed his concern over the 'poor' health infrastructure in the Jaintia Hills region of Meghalaya.

On this, Sungoh also questioned the state government on whether there is any plan for a medical college in Jaintia Hills.

He also urged the government to set up a Primary Health Center (PHC) at Psiar located on the interstate border with Assam. He also informed that the village has already donated four acres of land for the purpose.

In response to Sungoh's question, Meghalaya Health Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh informed the House that as of now there is no proposal to set up a medical college in the Jaintia Hills area but it is expected that a medical college will be set up someday soon.

According to the Meghalayan media report, Lyngdoh said, "One day, I hope we see a medical college in Jowai. I cannot make that commitment as it is a huge commitment”.

Along with this, the Health Minister also seems to disagree with the statement of the UDP MLA in which he had said that the health infrastructure in the Jantia Hills area is bad. On this, Lyngdoh said “We understand that there are these concerns…I understand we do need to put pressure (but) I have gone to many hospitals and we do need to pull up our socks and we will do in the coming months and years”.

Furthermore, considering the Primary Health Center at Psiar she mentioned “The application (for Psiar) has come. The MLA is working very diligently, and we are evaluating certain issues. We will see whether Psiar is eligible for this upgradation. We are working to sanctioning posts for all (such) buildings”.

Meanwhile, Amparain Lyngdoh also announced that the government is also planning to install an advanced radiology system at Jowai Civil Hospital.