Baishali Mukherjee

Meghalaya gets its first private medical college with The PA Sangma International Medical College of University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya (USTM), receiving approval from the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare to begin the courses on October 3. On October 28, the college notified the seat allotment and the fee structure for the academic year 2024-25. The college has been allotted  a total of 150 seats, including 23 NRI Quota, 64 State Quota and 63 Management Quota seats. According to the state government notification, “the Online Mop-Up and Stray Vacancy Round for Meghalaya State NEET UG 2024 counseling for the P.A. Sangma International Medical College & Hospital, Baridua, covering the State Quota, Management Quota, and NRI Quota, will commence on October 28, 2024, at 4 pm and continue until October 29, 2024 at 5 pm under the Meghalaya State Counseling Authority (MSCA).” This means students will get just 24 hours to get admission to the college.

Responding to the paucity of time for applying to the college, Cabinet Minister in the State Government of Meghalaya, Ampareen Lyngdoh, said “Phe PA Sangma medical college got late approval and it is going by the National Medical Commission (NMC) schedule. We have to meet the compulsory commencement date of the 1st year course.”

Tuition Fees for the students studying MBBS under State Quota  is Rs 4,95,000/- per year and Rs 24,75,000 for entire course, for those studying under Management Quota is Rs 18,00,000/- per year and Rs 90,00,000/- for entire course and those under NRI Quota is USD 2,00,000 for entire course.

When pointed out about the comparatively high fee structure, Ampareen said, “A fully government-sponsored seat will cost this much. We have brought this to the attention of the HCM, and will await his guidance on this matter, after due consultation with line departments”.

USTM currently operates a hospital, which is set to be upgraded to a super-specialty facility in the near future, with plans to expand to over 1,000 beds. The Meghalaya government has also been working to establish a state-owned medical college. Efforts are underway to set up the Shillong Medical College, which is expected to become operational by 2025-26. National Medical Commission (NMC) officials have visited the state and provided guidance to the government. Another medical college is also being developed in Tura, Garo Hills, as a greenfield project, with an expected operational date of 2027.

At present, Meghalaya has only one government medical college—the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS), located on the outskirts of Shillong. This institute, under the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, was established in 2008 and admits 50 students annually to its MBBS program. However, the state has several nursing colleges.

Also read: Meghalaya government seeks UGC recognition of state university