By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Sep 3: The Shillong Medical College (SMC) will commence its first academic session from the last week of this month.
The decision followed the receipt of necessary approval and Letter of Permission from the National Medical Commission (NMC).
Health Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh announced the development on Wednesday. She described it as a historic milestone for the state.
“This is a joyful day for the Health Department and the government of Meghalaya. The NMC has granted permission for the Shillong Medical College to function from the 2025-26 academic session with an intake capacity of 50 students,” Lyngdoh told reporters.
She said admissions will align with the national schedule for NEET-qualified candidates, with the second round of MBBS counselling beginning on September 26.
With this addition, Meghalaya now has 144 MBBS seats – 50 at the SMC and 94 through the state quota in institutions such as NEIGRIHMS and RIMS. Lyngdoh said the new college will help address the acute shortage of doctors in government health facilities.
The SMC will operate as a brownfield project, using the Shillong Civil Hospital and Ganesh Das Hospital as its teaching hospitals. Plans are afoot to introduce specialisation courses in the future to provide career advancement opportunities for doctors in government service.
Highlighting the faculty status, Lyngdoh said while the SMC has filled all 25 posts of assistant professor, there are still vacancies for some senior faculty positions.
“At present, 8 of the required 16 professors, 17 of 20 associate professors, 21 of 23 senior residents, and 12 of 15 tutors are in place,” the Minister said, attributing the shortfall to challenges in attracting professors to the state.
“We are working to strengthen the remaining gaps. Competitive salaries and facilities are key to attracting faculty members. We are grateful to the officers and the chief minister (Conrad K. Sangma) for ensuring that essential teaching staff are available for the first session,” Lyngdoh added.
She introduced Dr Nicola Gracyl Lyngdoh Iangrai, a senior ENT surgeon from RIMS, Imphal, as the first Director of the SMC. Dr Iangrai expressed her commitment to contribute to the growth of the institution and serve the people of Meghalaya.
Meanwhile, Lyngdoh said the Tura Medical College remains a separate greenfield project that requires new infrastructure unlike the SMC.
Reassuring students and parents, she said Meghalaya’s quota of MBBS seats allotted by the Government of India will continue to remain in place.