By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: While the State Government is planning to shift the entire Reid Chest (TB) Hospital from the current location at Jhalupara to Mawdiangdiang, the Washington-based Chrysoula Economopoulos, a consultant engaging in Advisory Services in Public-Private Partnerships for setting up of Shillong medical college said that provisions will be made to accommodate TB patients at the proposed college.
According to the consultant, as per the Medical Council of India requirements, the planned teaching hospital will operate outpatient department for TB patients.
“The college will also house over 500 beds for various departments including a dedicated ‘TB & Chest ward’ with minimum strength of 20 beds, the consultant said in reply to a recent query via email by CSWO president Agnes Kharshiing.
“.It is estimated that the hospital will be catering to over 200,000 patients each year which will also include TB patients. There will be other life threatening diseases which will be cured at the hospital. The medical college will create 100 doctors every year of which 40 will be from the state of Meghalaya”, the consultant said.
Kharshiing, however, wondered as to what is the need of shifting the whole TB Hospital to Mawdiangdiang since the consultant assured that the TB patients will also be accommodated in the same premises of the proposed medical college.
The consultant further said that the setting up of medical college is intended to contribute to addressing the shortage of doctors in the state and also to provide the students of the state with professional career opportunities within the state.
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) was appointed as an advisor by the Meghalaya Government to assist the government in instituting an objective process for selecting a private sector partner for the development of Medical college under a transparent public private partnership arrangement at the site of the Reid Regional Chest Hospital, the consultant said .
The consultant also assured that the Government decided not to close the Reid Hospital and committed to re-locate it to an appropriate site, keeping in mind the latest Directly Observed Treatment modality recommended by WHO, which hinges on outpatient management of the disease by proper compliance and availability of medicines.
To another query, the consultant further said that the bidding process was conducted in a transparent manner and bidding criteria was agreed to by the Government and all parties participating in the process.
“The Cabinet approved the bid documents after detailed discussions. The project was awarded to the technically qualified bidder that asked for the least financial support from the Government”, the consultant added.
