By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The State Government has inked a concessionaire agreement with the Kolkata-based KPC Group for setting up of the much-awaited Shillong Medical College under the Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) mode.
The agreement was signed between Commissioner and Secretary Health, DP Wahlang and KPC Group president Dr KP Choudhury in the presence of Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma on Friday.
While speaking on the occasion, Dr Sangma said that it is gratifying to see the dream of the people of Meghalaya to have their own medical college becoming a reality with the signing of this agreement.
“I have raised the issue of a Medical College for the State since the day I was first elected as an MLA in 1993. The standard reply I got is that the State would forfeit the seats allotted from the Central Pool if it has its own medical college. Such lame excuses make me feel bad,” the Chief Minister said.
Expressing happiness at this fresh development, Dr Sangma said the people of Meghalaya would be largely benefitted once this medical college is completed.
“I would like to see the project completed before the deadline and humbly request the parties to advance the timeline to 2016 instead of 2017,” Dr Sangma said adding that 40 children of the State are going to have the privilege of getting access to this premiere institution.
Meanwhile, KPC Group president KP Choudhury said he was delighted at the opportunity to take up this project as he was born in Shillong’s very own Robert’s Hospital.
“The task I am taking up is not an easy one but I am determined to succeed. I also need significant help from the Government and the people of the State,” Choudhury said.
He also praised the State Government for conducting a very transparent bidding process.
“Having lived in the United States for over three decades now, I am used to this sort of bidding and was pleasantly surprised by the sheer transparency of the process for this project,” Choudhury said.
Meanwhile, Chief Secretary WMS Pariat said that this is the first major PPP project to be taken up in the State.
“At present, the State is allotted 50-plus seats in various medical institutions every year. We will now have more students completing their medical studies from the State once this medical college is completed. This would largely help to solve the problem of shortage of doctors,” Pariat said.
Earlier, Wahlang informed that the targeted deadline to complete the first phase of the project is May 2016.
“We are hoping to recruit the first batch of medical students by May 2017. Out of the 100 seats which would be available, 40 would be reserved for the students from the State,” Wahlang said adding that by 2020 the 500-bedded hospital along with the medical college would be made fully operational.
“A super-specialty hospital would also be coming up at a later stage,” Wahlang informed.
Explaining the bidding process Wahlang said five private firms had bid for the tender floated by the Washington-based International Finance Corporation (IFC) for developing the medical college and associated teaching hospital on a Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) mode in the State.
The tender was floated by the IFC on behalf of the State Government in its official capacity as consultant of the proposed project.
“Being the lowest bidder, KPC Group was finally awarded the contract,” Wahlang said.
“As per the project teaser prepared by the IFC, the Government is proposing to construct a 100-seat medical college with a 500-bedded associated teaching hospital with flexibility on phased development in accordance with regulatory requirements.
The selected private partner will also be allowed to develop other ancillary activities (educational and medical) such as a specialty hospital as a private undertaking.
Meanwhile, sources from the Health department said the private firm would assist in the financial closure for development of the medical college and also design, develop, finance, construct, operate and maintain the proposed medical college and hospital for the concession period.
“The private firm would have to ensure that the proposed medical college adheres to the Medical Council of India (MCI) guidelines at all times,” the sources said, adding that the private firm would have to transfer the project to the Government at the end of the concession period.
The sources also said that the existing Reid Chest (TB) Hospital campus with 23.8 acres of land in Jhalupara has been finalised as the proposed site for the medical college.
Of the total land to be leased to the private partner selected as the Concessionaire, an area of up to 3.8 acres is being offered for the development of ancillary activities, the sources further informed.
With regards to funding the sources said that the Government would require a maximum contribution of Rs 100 crore from the private firm for the project.
Informing about the key responsibilities of the Government in the project, sources informed that the Government would have to designate the medical college as a non-private University through necessary legislation.
“The Government would also have to provide 99-year lease for the site and 30-year concession to the private entity which may be extended by another 15 years,” the sources informed.