By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Sep 2: The National Medical Commission (NMC) has sanctioned 50 MBBS seats for Shillong Medical College and Hospital (SMCH) for the 2025–26 academic year, marking an important step for Meghalaya’s medical education sector.
With this, SMCH has joined the list of 21 institutions across 13 states that have been allotted seats by the NMC.
Health Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh confirmed the development on Tuesday, noting that the approval represents a major achievement for the state.
Earlier this year, the government had set up the Shillong Medical College Council to oversee academic and administrative matters.
Headed by the Dean and comprising 14 members, the Council is tasked with formulating academic policies, ensuring compliance with NMC regulations, monitoring the quality of teaching, clinical training, and research, and recommending faculty development initiatives. It will also review departmental activities, encourage inter-departmental collaboration, and provide guidance on infrastructure and staffing needs.
Alongside this, a Fees Committee has been created under the Health and Family Welfare Department to regulate the fees for students admitted to medical and nursing courses in government institutions.
Several other committees have also been notified for the new college. The Anti-Ragging Committee, chaired by the Dean, will work to prevent and act on incidents of ragging within the campus and hostels. The Gender Harassment Committee, led by the Head of the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department, will address complaints of gender-based harassment. Additionally, a Pharmacovigilance Committee has been formed to monitor the safe use of medicines.
The approval of seats, coupled with these institutional mechanisms, has laid the foundation for Shillong Medical College to begin functioning in line with national standards.