First private medical college in Northeast inaugurated in Manipur

Our Correspondent
Imphal, Dec. 22 (EMN): Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Wednesday inaugurated the first ever private medical college in Northeast ‘Shija Academy of Health Sciences (SAHS)’ at Langol in the outskirts of Imphal.

Works minister Th Biswajit Singh and Shija Hospitals and Research Institute (SHRI)’s Chairman and Managing Director Dr. Palin Khundongbam, SHRI Director (Medical Services) Dr. Jugindra Sorokhaibam and Director and Dean(SAHS)Dr. M Amuba Singh, Board of Directors Dr. Bonney Khundongbam and Gaitri Maibam also attended the function.

Speaking on the occasion, Biren Singh lauded SHRI for its contribution towards providing quality healthcare and fighting Covid pandemic not only to the people of Manipur but also to the North East region and neighbouring country.

He said it is heartening to learn that 57,000 patients have received treatment under government health schemes-CMHT and PMJAY at SHRI.

Stating that there is a need to encourage the PPP model in every sector, he informed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also directed the states in the recent chief minister’s conference to promote the PPP model.

Maintaining that the State Government is ready to extend all possible co-operations to private companies in all their endeavours, he said that the Manipur Government had given approval to run the 20 KL Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) Plant at Porompat through PPP model. Stating that the government had a hard time in tackling Covid pandemic, he appreciated the efforts of health professionals and all the frontline warriors.

As per latest information, he said the air service between Manipur-Myanmar and Manipur-Bangladesh is expected soon under the UDAN scheme. Similarly helicopter service between Moreh-Imphal-Tamenglong-Jiribam in the state will also be initiated to assess better healthcare services and also encourage medical tourism in the region.

In his speech, Works Minister Th Biswajit Singh said establishment of a private medical college in Manipur is encouraging, adding that Manipur has a huge potential to become a healthcare destination in the North East region.

A souvenir which presents an account of 36 years of service by Shija Hospitals was also released at the occasion.

After the formal inauguration, SHRI Managing Director Dr. Palin said the academic session of the medical college, which has an intake capacity of 150 students (63 state government quota seats), will begin from February next year.

Regarding the opening of a new private medical college, Director (Medical Services) Dr. Jugindra said the main objective is to produce ‘strong, empathetic, compassionate, socially and environmentally responsible research-oriented medical professionals’.

There are about 35,396 registered doctors against the requirement of 45,000 in the entire Northeast as the World Health Organisation recommended doctor to population ratio of 1: 1000. Presently there are about 16 medical colleges (including eight in Assam, two each in Manipur and Tripura) in Northeast India including Sikkim.

Only about 150 medical aspirants (out of 4000) from Manipur are selected as government nominees and more than 400 students are going outside state and country for medical studies annually. Currently about 700 Manipuri medical students are studying in China alone.

At the same time, nearly 50,000 patients along with their attendants go outside the state for health care facilities.