Minister for Tourism Sushanta Chowdhury announced on Monday that the state government is in the process of granting approval for the temporary use of the Indira Gandhi Memorial (IGM) Hospital building for the establishment of the proposed Shantiniketan Medical College. The minister assured that the government is strictly adhering to the guidelines prescribed by the Medical Council of India in this endeavor.
This announcement came in response to a letter written by Opposition Leader Jitendra Chaudhury to Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, in which concerns were raised about the state’s healthcare services. Minister Chowdhury emphasized that the state government is actively working to enhance healthcare infrastructure and is making significant efforts to establish new medical colleges, thereby encouraging private health-educational institutions to invest in the state. He noted that several private entities have previously been given opportunities to contribute to Tripura’s healthcare sector.
Addressing the media at the secretariat, Chowdhury highlighted the state government’s aim to enable local students to pursue medical education within the state. This move is expected to increase the number of practicing doctors and improve healthcare services in the region. The minister revealed that the “Swadhin Trust” has applied to the state government to use IGM Hospital temporarily for admissions to Shantiniketan Medical College. The trust is independently funding the construction of the college building on land purchased near Agartala, with plans to build a 600-bed hospital, as required by the National Medical Council for establishing a medical college.
Minister Chowdhury assured that the state government is committed to expanding IGM Hospital’s bed capacity and improving its associated infrastructure to ensure public health safety. He reiterated that the “Swadhin Trust” has guaranteed the temporary use of IGM Hospital only until their own hospital is completed.
During the press conference, the minister underscored the urgent need for a new medical college in Tripura. He shared that currently, 1,189 doctors are serving in various healthcare facilities under the state government. According to World Health Organization guidelines, the doctor-population ratio should be 1:1000. However, with Tripura’s population around 40 lakhs, the current ratio stands at 1:3448. The state’s existing 225 medical seats (125 at Agartala Government Medical College and 100 at Tripura Medical College) are insufficient to meet the growing demand for doctors.
To address this shortage, the state government is also recruiting specialists and super-specialists. Minister Chowdhury mentioned that the central government supports the use of public hospitals as teaching hospitals for private medical colleges, as outlined in the Establishment of Medical College Regulations, 1999. Following these guidelines, the central health ministry has approved 27 new medical colleges in Uttar Pradesh using government hospitals, with similar examples in other states.
The minister reassured that all necessary steps are being taken in compliance with norms. The “Swadhin Trust” will secure the required approvals from the National Medical Council and deposit the security money with the government. They have also committed to reserving seats for students from below the poverty line at the same rate as Agartala Government Medical College and will reserve 50 percent of the seats for the state’s students. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the “Swadhin Trust” and the Tripura government is expected to be signed soon.
Addressing concerns about potential impacts on IGM Hospital’s services, Chowdhury clarified that academic classes will be held at Shantiniketan Medical College, with occasional practical classes at IGM Hospital. He assured that any damages to the hospital’s resources would be compensated by the trust. The government is cautious to avoid repeating the 2006 incident with G-Net Group, which failed to meet its commitments after being allowed to use the state’s district hospital as a teaching hospital.
The minister’s statements reflect a comprehensive strategy aimed at bolstering the healthcare infrastructure in Tripura while ensuring that local students have access to quality medical education and that healthcare services for the general population are not compromised.
