Pema hands out admission certificates to TRIHMS MBBS students
Staff Reporter
NAHARLAGUN, Aug 1: The first academic session of the state’s first medical college, the Tomo Riba Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (TRIHMS) officially began with Chief Minister Pema Khandu handing out certificates of admission to the first batch of MBBS students at the institute’s ceremony hall here on Wednesday.
The TRIHMS inducted a total of 39 students as the very first batch of MBBS students. Of the 39, 27 are girls while the rest are boys.
Congratulating the people of the state on the occasion, Chief Minister Pema Khandu said, “Today is a historic day for Arunachal Pradesh particularly in the fields of health care and medical education and will go down in the history of state in golden letters. I express my appreciation and congratulations to all the people, who worked overtime with zeal and enthusiasm for many years to make this dream of having a medical college in the state a reality.”
The chief minister further said the opening of the first medical college has been made possible by the generous funding received from the present central govt under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Health Minister JP Nadda.
He said that a medical college and hospital at the doorstep will to a large extent ease the burden of the needy and poor who have to otherwise depend on other parts of the country for both medical education and treatment.
Pema also highlighted the contributions of all former chief ministers, including late Dorjee Khandu, late Jarbom Gamlin, late Kalikho Pul and Nabam Tuki for making the dream of having a medical college in the state a reality.
He further congratulated the first batch of students, faculty, administrators and employees of the institute for being a part of the history in making.
The chief minister also expressed his gratitude to Medical Council of India President, Dr Jayashree Mehta and other members for opening of the medical college. “As Arunachal Pradesh is still an evolving state, I believe the MCI will continue its support and guidance for growth of this institute,” said the CM.
He said the institute has so far filled up 39 seats mainly from the state quota and is awaiting 11 more seats to be filled under central and NRI quota.
“However, as per the decision taken in TRIHMS governing body meeting, the said seats will be filled as state quota, if these remain unfilled over certain period of time,” said the CM.
Speaking on institute’s expansion plan, the CM said within the span of two years, the institute plans to increase the intake of MBBS students from 50 to 100 and hike the number of beds in teaching hospital from 300 to 500.
He informed that the institute in 3-5 years will introduce post graduate courses in para-clinical and clinical subjects. He also informed that within one year the super-specialty departments of cardiology, paediatric surgery and oncology will be added in addition to the departments of urology, neurosurgery and gastroenterology to be added in 2-5 years.
“An emergency and trauma centre will also be added in another in 2 years,” the CM added.
The chief minister also paid tribute to former Chief Minister, late Tomo Riba after whom the institute has been named. He said late Tomo Riba was among the first generation of educated people of the state and served the state from early 50s to 2000 as student and community leader, social reformer, member of the first state legislative council, member of the legislative assembly, member of parliament besides being the chief minister during the early days of the state.
Earlier, Deputy Chief Minister, Chowna Mein in his address said that with the start of the medical college in the state, the long cherished dream of the people has been realized. Mein called on all concerned to devote their best to make TRIHMS as one of the best medical institutes in the country.
“Although we are late starters, we look forward to more such development in the state. We should now focus on the future challenges and work towards making TRIHMS the best and most advanced medical college of the country,” he added.
Also speaking on the occasion, Health Minister Alo Libang requested the MCI for considering the request of state government to increase the MBBS seat in TRIHMS from 50 to 100 and for expanding the 300-bed hospital to 500-bed.
While responding to Health Minister Alo Libang’s request, Dr Mehta in her address assured all possible support from the MCI to the state government in making TRIHMS the best medical hub in the country.
Congratulating the students, Dr Mehta said to remain sincere and dedicated towards their studies. “The reputation of this institute is now in your hands, be committed and ethical and set an example for other medical colleges of the country,” she said.
A souvenir of the TRIHMS was also released by the chief minister on the occasion.
Also present on the occasion were PHED Minister Wangki Lowang, Speaker Tenzing Norbu Thongdok, former CM Nabam Tuki, MCI Secretary incharge, Dr. Reena Nayyar, Regional Director Health & Family Welfare, PJ Gogoi Chief Secretary Satya Gopal and TRIHMS Director Dr Moji Jini. (With CMO inputs)
