Guwahati: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu celebrated the induction of 100 MBBS students at the Tomo Riba Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (TRIHMS) on Wednesday, marking it as a “historic day” for the state’s only medical college and Arunachal Pradesh as a whole.
Starting this academic year, the intake capacity for the MBBS course at TRIHMS has doubled from 50 to 100 seats—a goal that Khandu has championed since the college’s inception.
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During a welcoming ceremony held at TRIHMS, Khandu congratulated the new batch of students, describing the expanded capacity as a significant milestone for medical education in the state.
He praised the achievement as a new chapter in TRIHMS’s history and emphasized the importance of strengthening healthcare education in Arunachal Pradesh.
Khandu expressed happiness that the increase in a number of seats from this year meant that more local youths will get the opportunity to pursue medicine.
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“What is more substantial is the fact that 85 of the 100 seats are reserved for APST students which is a huge jump from about 30 MBBS seats before the start of the medical college,” he said.
Khandu noted that the state government has fulfilled its promise to the people of Arunachal Pradesh to increase the capacity of TRIHMS medical college along with an increase in seats reserved for APST aspirants.
He recalled the historic day in 2018, when as the Chief Minister, he had attended the induction ceremony of the first ever MBBS batch of the institute, who have since completed their internships and passed from the college in May this year.
“I am glad to know that the second batch has completed the final MBBS examination and undergoing internship,” Khandu observed.
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With the latest milestone achieved, he pointed out that it was time for TRIHMS to step up to another level – by starting MD/MS PG and MCh/DM courses in super speciality departments and strengthening the existing departments and service units.
“In this direction, the state government has already approved for starting of PG courses in 12 specialities and 1 super specialties (DM course in cardiology). We have also approved in principle the establishment of 500-bed super speciality block with central assistance,” the Chief Minister informed.
Praising the faculty members, doctors and paramedics of TRIHMS for performing extraordinarily in many cases by conducting operations and emergency procedures saving precious lives, Khandu drew their attention towards two serious concerns, cancer and kidney diseases.
He informed that recently a MoU has been signed between Dr. B. Borooah Cancer Institute and the State Cancer Society of Arunachal Pradesh to investigate the rising cancer rates in the state.
Further, he said that a 200-bedded Regional Cancer Centre is being established in Midpu near Doimukh.
To deal with kidney ailments, Khandu informed that the state government has approved for establishment of the Department of Renal Science and Kidney Transplantation in TRIHMS in collaboration with Sir Gangaram Hospital and expressed optimism that the first kidney transplantation will happen in TRIHMS as soon as the OT complex is ready.
The Chief Minister also revealed that three more medical colleges will be established in the state in the coming years.
“The second medical college, after TRIHMS, will come up at Pasighat, followed by Namsai under PPP mode. Next college will be established in the West Kameng-Tawang region. When done, we will have four medical colleges to take pride of,” he added.
The induction ceremony was also attended by Health Minister BiyuramWahge, Advisor to Health Minister Dr Mahesh Chai, local MLA TechiKaso, health officials, administrative officers, faculty members, doctors and students of TRIHMS.
Earlier on the day, Khandu along with Wahge and Dr Chai attended the 8th Governing Council Meeting of TRIHMS.