Laying the foundation stone of the Mon Medical College in Mon district headquarters on February 26, 2021, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare informed the gathering, “At present there are 562 medical colleges in the country out of which 286 are in government sector while 276 are in private sector. Another 175 medical colleges are also in the process of development. Against 52,000 MBBS seats in 2013-14, there are now 84,000 UG seats. Several medical commissions are also being set up. Around 1,50,000 health & wellness centres have been set up in the country.”
Opening the second medical college in the state, he added that this medical college is approved at a cost Rs. 325 Crore under Phase III of the centrally sponsored scheme for establishment of new medical colleges attached with existing district/referral hospitals. The project will have central share of Rs. 292.50 Cr and is slated to be completed by 2023-24. The setting up of the new college in Mon, one of the most backward and farthest districts from the state capital will help bring affordable secondary healthcare facilities to the doorsteps of nearly 2.5 lakh people.
Lauding the efforts of healthcare workers in combating COVID-19 he said, India is ahead of many developed countries in the war against the pandemic. Neiphiu Rio, Chief Minister, Nagaland observed that the college will not only benefit Mon and Nagaland but also the people living in neighbouring states of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh and even Myanmar, stating that the college will be run by the state government under PPP mode.
