Guwahati, Dec 20: A Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare has raised serious concerns over financial management, high vacancies and delayed infrastructure development at the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS), Shillong.
The observations were made in the Committee’s 170th Report, which reviewed action taken by the government on recommendations contained in its earlier 163rd report on Demands for Grants for 2025–26. The report was laid recently,
The Committee noted “significant variations” between budget estimates and revised estimates in the financial years 2023–24 and 2024–25, pointing to shortcomings in financial planning and execution at the premier regional institute. Despite these concerns, the report highlighted that NEIGRIHMS achieved 99.71% utilisation of its revised estimate of ₹475 crore in FY 2024–25 — spending ₹473.61 crore.
While acknowledging the recent improvement, the panel stressed the need for “robust financial planning” and regular monitoring to ensure timely and optimal utilisation of funds in future.
The Committee also flagged the slow pace of staff recruitment, noting that vacancies had only marginally reduced from 401 to 388. Critical shortages remain, particularly in faculty positions (62) and senior residents (55), which it said are likely to be affecting the institution’s academic and operational efficiency.
Calling for urgent corrective measures, the Committee recommended special time-bound recruitment drives, especially targeting SC/ST and OBC candidates. It suggested wider outreach, relaxed eligibility where feasible, and collaboration with other medical institutions to fill long-standing positions without delay.
Construction delays at the institute’s Critical Care Block (CCB) also came under sharp scrutiny. The project has achieved just 47.5% physical and 42.25% financial progress as of April 21, 2025. The Committee said the pace of execution was a “matter of concern,” urging NEIGRIHMS to address bottlenecks and accelerate completion.
Though a High-Powered Committee is currently overseeing the project, the report recommended setting up a dedicated project management unit within the institute to track milestones, enforce accountability and conduct quarterly progress reviews.
The panel further emphasised that proposed re-engineering of hospital management systems should be implemented at the earliest to enhance administrative efficiency and improve patient care outcomes
NEIGRIHMS, the apex health institution in the Northeast, is expected to play a crucial role in strengthening regional healthcare capacity. The Committee said clearer planning, timely execution and stronger institutional systems would be key to delivering on that mandate.
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