Manipur to get first private medical college, announces SHRI

NMC has given nod for setting up the first private medical college in Manipur with an annual intake capacity of 150 students.

The Managing Director of Shija Hospitals and Research Institute (SHRI), Imphal, Palin Khundongbam has confirmed that the National Medical Commission (NMC) has given permission for setting up the first private medical college in Manipur and all the required infrastructure to start the first academic session (2021-2022) is in place.

“The main purpose of establishing the new medical college is to produce strong, empathetic, compassionate, socially and environmentally responsible research-oriented medical graduates and postgraduates… provide affordable quality healthcare, medical tourism to contribute to the state’s exchequer and for inclusive growth of the region,” said Palin Khundongbam, as reported by The Indian Express.

“The medical college will not only generate employment but also help the state to develop as a global healthcare destination,” he added.

Shija Academy of Health Sciences (SAHS), the first private medical college in Manipur will be situated at the Health Village in Imphal West district’s Langol. The medical college will have an intake capacity of 150 students per year and it is sponsored by SHRI. Palin Khundongbam said that 20% of the seats of SAHS will be reserved for state government, 65% will go to the management nominees and 15% to NRIs (Non-Resident Indians).

The annual fee structure of SAHS has been proposed based on the nearest private medical colleges in Kolkata. 

The MD of SHRI has claimed that there are more than 4,000 medical aspirants in the state every year, out of which more than 400 seek admission outside the state or abroad and 150 students are selected as government nominees. 

He also said that approximately over Rs 500 crore is spent outside the state for medical education and healthcare annually and the amount is even more if the expenditure on paramedical, dental and nursing students are included. As per an estimate, currently, around 700 Manipuri medical students are studying in China alone.

He also highlighted the shortage of medical colleges in the notheast. He said that as per the World Health Organization (WHO) norm, there should be one doctor for every 1,000 individuals, however, in India, out of a total of 440 medical colleges, only 3% are in the northeast.

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