With the first batch of MBBS students getting admission certificate from Chief Minister Pema Khandu, a long-cherished dream of the state to have a medical college of its own has come to a reality on August 1. As promised earlier, the college has started functioning on schedule though all 50 students are yet to be admitted. Conceived as far back as 2012, it took shape after long six years. At the same time it may be noted that many such medical colleges promised in Assam earlier than that are yet to get functional. It, no doubt,  goes to the efforts of the state government and other concerned authorities who  left no stone unturned for the medical college, Tomo Riba Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (TRIHMS), named after the second chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh, see the light of the day. 

All is said and done. Fine. But as days progress into weeks and months and years, the TRIHMS is also bound to experience the internal dissensions from unsatisfied and ambitious local professionals since at present most of the faculties including the Dean are from outside the state. There are many instances in the region where locals have revolted against outsiders who are brought at the helm to run the affairs in institutes of excellence like the case in RIMS (Regional Institute of Medical Sciences) in Imphal and back home the National Institute of Technology in the recent past where the director was compelled to go on a long leave. Thus it is imperative that such tendencies, as and when they raise their ugly head, are nipped in the bud itself and to borrow a medical term “prevention is better than cure”.

The infant TRIHMS is bound to confront many teething problems and students and parents will be anxious. The State Government has done a better job of bringing best professional from outside the state insofar as the faculty is concerned. What about the technical staff to operate the state of the art equipmentn and the trained paramedic staff? Moreover, for practicals, students will need cadavers. In a state like Arunachal Pradesh it will be very difficult to procure bodies as donating bodies is yet to be propagated here. Getting unclaimed bodies too is a difficult task.