SHILLONG, Aug 12: Tura MP Saleng Sangma has petitioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi to convert the under-construction Tura Medical College into AIIMS Tura, with 100% government staffing, for sustainable healthcare development in the Tura Parliamentary Constituency.
In his letter, Sangma urged the Prime Minister to establish an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Tura as an alternative to the currently proposed Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model for the medical college. He pointed out that the Tura Medical College project, approved in 2017 under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme at a cost of Rs 189 crore with a 90:10 funding ratio for Northeastern states, is now being considered for private sector operation and management. The Meghalaya government has already issued an Expression of Interest for running the institution under the PPP mode, with an annual intake of 150 MBBS students.
According to Sangma, operating a government-funded medical college through a PPP model raises serious concerns over “public investment but private control.” He stressed that the infrastructure was built with 90% central funding, and handing operations to private entities undermines the public investment made.
“This would create a precedent where government-funded institutions turn into profit-driven enterprises, with limited employment opportunities for the local population. It also fails to address the employment needs of indigenous communities in the Tura constituency,” he said.
The MP further warned that private operators may prioritise revenue generation over healthcare accessibility. Even with regulated fee structures, he cautioned, local families could face financial strain, especially if admissions include seats under the NRI quota.
Sangma also proposed integrating the medical college with the planned 605-bedded teaching hospital — comprising the 505-bedded Tura Civil Hospital and the 100-bedded District Maternity & Child Hospital. This, he said, could generate 2,000–3,000 permanent jobs across various categories.
He appealed to the Prime Minister to direct the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare to review the PPP decision and issue guidelines for converting government-funded medical colleges into AIIMS institutions instead. He also sought approval for additional funding to upgrade the Tura Medical College to AIIMS standards, with a clear operational roadmap targeting completion by 2026-27.
