SHILLONG: Chief Minister Conrad Sangma took up the twin issues of autonomy to NEIGRIHMS and derecognition of MBBS course at the institute when he met Union Health and Family Welfare Minister JP Nadda at his office in New Delhi on Saturday. Sangma submitted a memorandum in this regard. The chief minister informed that the Union minister assured to look into the matter and said it was “very important” to accord autonomy to NEIGRIHMS, which will pave way for improvement and development to take place for the betterment of the prestigious healthcare institution in North East. “According autonomy to NEIGRIHMS will go a long way in accelerating the development of medical and health care in the state and region,” the chief minister added.
The Union minister also assured Sangma to look into the issue of de-recognition to MBBS course at NEIGRIHMS and pending payments which are to be released to different departments. “The process for recognition to MBBS will be resolved soon as well as the release of payments to different departments,” Sangma said.
According to the chief minister, the meeting with the Union minister was positive and the Centre has assured full cooperation to further the facilities of healthcare services in Meghalaya and the North East. Manipur Health Minister Jayanta Kumar also accompanied Sangma during his meeting with Nadda. NEIGRIHMS, Shillong was set up as a postgraduate medical facility to provide quality health care services to the people of Meghalaya and the northeastern region on the lines of AIIMS, New Delhi and PGIMER, Chandigarh, which are autonomous institutes established under Acts of Parliament. The Centre recently announced setting up of new AIIMS in different parts of the country including one in Assam in the North East.