By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The State Health and Family Welfare department is busy preparing the plans and estimates of the much awaited Shillong Medical College to come up in the city.
Commissoner and Secretary of Health and Family Welfare DP Wahlang on Monday said, “We are making plans and estimates of the project.”
The State Government is targeting to make the hospital functional by May 2017 by admitting the first batch of medical students in the college.
According to Wahlang, the plans and estimates would be screened before the department approves it.
It may be mentioned that the State Government has inked a concessionaire agreement with Kolkata-based KPC Group for setting up of the much-awaited Shillong Medical College under the Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) mode.
Reacting to a query about any timeline by when the construction is scheduled to start, the official did not gave any direct reply but stated that plans and estimates for the project may take some time to be approved as it has to be screened.
The proposed Shillong Medical College site at Jhalupara in a land of 23.8 acres will house over 500 beds and cater to over 200,000 patients every year.
To make way for the proposed hospital, the State Government has decided to shift the Reid Chest (TB) Hospital to Mawdiangdiang for which a plot of land has been allotted by the Urban Affairs department.
It is learnt that the tender has been floated for the construction of the TB Hospital at Mawdiangdiang. “We are taking steps in this regard,” Wahlang added.
As per the project teaser prepared by the IFC, the Government is proposing to construct a 100-seat medical college with a 500-bedded associated teaching hospital with flexibility on phased development in accordance with regulatory requirements.
The selected private partner will also be allowed to develop other ancillary activities (educational and medical) such as a specialty hospital as a private undertaking.
The Government would require a maximum contribution of Rs 100 crore from the private firm for the project.
