Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Wednesday said that three new medical colleges will come up in the state under Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode in the coming years.
Khandu said this while gracing the induction ceremony of MBBS students in Tomo Riba Institute of Health and Medical Science (TRIHMS), state’s lone medical college at Naharlagun.
“The second medical college, after TRIHMS, will come up at Pasighat (in East Siang district), followed by Namsai under private-public-partnership (PPP) mode. Next college will be established in the West Kameng-Tawang region. When done, we will have four medical colleges to take pride of,” Khandu said.
Hailing the induction of 100 MBBS students in TRIHMS as a “historic day” for the state, the Chief Minister said, from this academic year the number of seats for the MBBS course in TRIHMS has been increased to 100 from existing 50, an objective Khandu has been striving for since the college’s inception in 2018.
“A new chapter in the history of TRIHMS has been uncovered today,” he said while welcoming the newly inducted students in a simple but impressive ceremony here at TRIHMS.
Khandu expressed happiness that the increase in number of seats from this year meant that more local youths will get the opportunity to pursue medical careers.
“What is more substantial is the fact that 85 of the 100 seats are reserved for APST (Arunachal Pradesh Scheduled Tribe) students which is a huge jump from about 30 MBBS seats before the start of the medical college,” he said.
Khandu noted that the state government has fulfilled its promise to the people of Arunachal Pradesh to increase the capacity of TRIHMS medical college along with an increase in seats reserved for APST aspirants.
With the latest milestone achieved, he pointed that it was time for TRIHMS to step up to another level – by starting MD/MS PG and MCh/DM courses in super-specialty departments and strengthening the existing departments and service units.
“In this direction the state government has already approved for starting PG courses in 12 specialties and 1 super specialty (DM course in cardiology). We have also approved in principle establishment of 500-bedded super specialty block with central assistance,” the Chief Minister informed.
Praising the faculty members, doctors and paramedics of TRIHMS for performing extraordinarily in many cases by conducting operations and emergency procedures saving precious lives, Khandu drew their attention towards two serious concerns – cancer and kidney diseases.
He informed that recently an MoU has been signed between Dr B Borooah Cancer Institute, Guwahati and the State Cancer Society of Arunachal Pradesh to investigate the rising cancer rates in the state.
Further, the CM said that a 200-bedded Regional Cancer Centre is being established in Midpu near Doimukh.
To deal with kidney ailments, Khandu informed that the state government has approved for establishment of the Department of Renal Science and Kidney Transplantation in TRIHMS in collaboration with Sir Gangaram Hospital, Delhi and expressed optimism that the first kidney transplantation will happen in TRIHMS as soon as the OT complex is ready.
The induction ceremony was also attended by Health Minister Biyuram Wahge, Advisor to Health Minister Dr Mahesh Chai, local MLA Techi Kaso, health officials, administrative officers, faculty members, doctors and students of TRIHMS.
Earlier on the day, the Chief Minister along with Wahge and Dr Chai attended the 8th Governing Council Meeting of TRIHMS.
