Govt to set up training centre to address shortage of specialist doctors

 The proposal made by the health department was taken up and approved by the state Cabinet during its meeting held on Monday.

Addressing media persons, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said this is good news for the medical fraternity as MBBS doctors can now continue with their studies for specialization in any field within the state.

“The government will create and set up a special training centre, which will offer a two-year diploma course for MBBS doctors in the state,” he said.

It may be mentioned here that MBBS doctors, who wanted to pursue further studies as specialists have to go outside the state and the duration of the course is 3 years.

“However after completion of the diploma course, they (MBBS doctors) will (also) be called specialists but of course below the normal specialists where they need to go to different medical colleges outside the state,” Tynsong said.

“This is not a full fledged MD or MS courses but the government of India guidelines stated that any states who wanted to upscale the quality of the physicians in the medical fraternity you can also take this opportunity by setting up this two years course for the MBBS in any line they prefer and this can be recognized and accepted in the respective state,” he added.

Stating that there is a huge shortage of specialist doctors in the state, the deputy chief minister said as of today, the state is having a shortage of not less than 121 specialist doctors.

“So with this initiative taken by the government, I am sure after two years from now, we will be able to have more specialist doctors,” he said while informing that the centre is proposing to produce 20-30 specialist doctors annually.

Asked on the financial implication, Tynsong informed that for the initial investment, the state will require not less than Rs 2 crore for creating the infrastructure of the training centre.

“The expenditure needed to be spent by the state government annually will also come to around Rs 55 to Rs 60 lakh,” he said. He also informed that the government will have to engage expertise from outside the state to run the training centre adding “We will also try our best to increase the seats to 40 annaully.”

Tynsong further maintained that the centre will cater to only people from the state of Meghalaya and not from outside.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet has also approved the draft Meghalaya Nursing Council Rules, 2020 and the Meghalaya Nursing Regulation, 2020.

According to Tynsong, all this while the rules have not been framed although the Act was notified way back in 1992.

By Our Reporter