New Delhi, Nov 4 (Calcutta Tube) For addressing the shortage of medical staff and improving health services, the World Bank is supporting Meghalaya in India’s northeast to establish its first public-private partnership for a new hospital and medical college, a statement said Tuesday.

According to the statement, International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank group, was extending its global expertise in structuring and implementing public-private partnership transactions to assist the state in this project.

Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said: ‘Successful implementation of the Shillong hospital and medical college will provide trained medical staff and quality and affordable health services to people and create employment opportunities.’

Rachel Kyte, IFC vice president for business advisory services, said: ‘The plan for a public private partnership to develop a hospital and medical college will demonstrate that the private sector can play an important role in extending health care services to the poor. This is India’s plan for inclusive growth in action’.