GANGTOK: Sikkim Health Minister GT Dhungel has denied claims regarding the approval of a Government Medical College in Sikkim, calling them “absurd.” The National Medical Commission (NMC) conducted a survey on June 24 to assess the proposed site for the medical college and various required formalities. Following this survey, the NMC denied the approval, confirmed Health Minister Dhungel.
A public notice dated July 6 from the NMC and the Medical Assessment Rating Board (MARB) listed Sikkim Government Medical College in Gangtok among the 113 applicants for establishing new undergraduate medical colleges for the academic year 2024-25.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Sikkim President Dilli Ram Thapa issued a statement on July 8, extending gratitude to Union Health Minister JP Nadda for the alleged allotment of the new medical college. Thapa praised the “swift decision made by the Health Ministry in favor of Sikkim,” and claimed that during his visit to Sikkim, JP Nadda was briefed on this crucial issue by the BJP leadership, highlighting its importance for enhancing healthcare infrastructure in the state.
Terming the approval as a “long-pending demand,” Thapa added, “This long-awaited decision fulfills a significant demand that has been diligently pursued by BJP Sikkim with central leadership for an extended period. The allotment of the medical college was prominently featured in BJP Sikkim’s manifesto, underscoring its importance to the people of Sikkim.”
However, Health Minister Dhungel refuted this claim. Speaking with EastMojo, Dhungel stated, “The National Medical Commission conducted a survey on June 24, following which they denied approval for a medical college in Sikkim. They surveyed the location below the current Sir Thutob Namgyal Memorial Hospital in Sokeythang. There has been no work initiated, and many formalities are yet to be completed. Hence, the claim that a medical college has been approved for Sikkim is absurd.”
Dhungel, along with Chief Minister Prem Singh Golay, had met Union Health Minister Nadda last month in Delhi. The Health Minister confirmed that they had placed the demand for a medical college at that time, after which the NMC sent a team to survey the potential location and the necessary formalities for approval. “The approval stands denied following the survey on June 24,” reiterated Dhungel.
Similarly, the ruling Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) party credited Chief Minister Prem Singh Golay for pursuing the demand for a medical college, terming the “approval as a milestone.” SKM spokesperson Bikash Basnet, in a press statement, said, “It is because of Chief Minister Golay’s strong relationship with the Centre that the medical college has been approved. This is an exemplary development for the state. The medical college will aid Sikkim in the health and education sectors, making Sikkim a medical hub. It will encourage medical learning and practices in the state.”
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