Shillong, September 12: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Thursday admitted that the state faces a critical shortage of doctors, with nearly 50 per cent deficit in medical professionals across government-run health institutions.
Speaking in the Assembly during a discussion on the upcoming Tura Medical College initiated by Leader of Opposition Dr. Mukul Sangma, the Chief Minister said that even Community Health Centres (CHCs), Primary Health Centres (PHCs), and civil hospitals lack sufficient manpower to deliver basic healthcare services.
“We do not have sufficient manpower to provide even the basic services in the CHCs, PHCs, and civil hospitals,” Sangma remarked, adding that recruiting qualified personnel has been one of the state’s biggest challenges.
He cited that the Garo Hills region alone requires over 90 specialists but currently has only 54. Across Meghalaya, the deficit extends to district hospitals, maternity and child health centres, and other critical facilities. The Chief Minister also revealed that at least 20 doctors who were willing to join government hospitals were found to lack the necessary qualifications.
To address the crisis, the government is attempting to hire doctors from outside the state and from private or not-for-profit institutions. However, Sangma acknowledged that doctors are reluctant to join government service in Meghalaya.
The Chief Minister also expressed concern that the opening of the new Shillong and Tura medical colleges could worsen the manpower crunch, as additional resources would be needed to run the institutions. Nonetheless, he said the government would make every effort to recruit adequate staff once the colleges begin functioning.
Sangma further announced that the medical colleges would be run in partnership with private players, with tuition fees subsidised for students admitted under government quota seats.
