SHILLONG, MAY 11: Citing the Meghalaya Land Transfer Act, Health Minister Wailadmiki Shylla on Monday said it would not be “wise” to comment on providing land to doctors from outside the state, calling it a “very sensitive issue.”

“This is a very sensitive issue, so I think it is not wise for me to comment on that because this is dealing with the Land Transfer Act, where the Act is already in place,” Shylla told reporters.

He cautioned that the debate extends beyond the medical field. “If you talk about doctors today, then what about professors, and other important services will come,” he said.

The minister admitted the state faces hurdles in hiring specialists and faculty but said land access is only one part of the problem.

“We are having challenges in having specialists, even professors. We are having difficulty,” he said. “But is that the only reason? I think that might not be. There are other reasons as well.”

Shylla said the government would assess other factors affecting recruitment while staying away from the land issue for now.

“No doubt we will try to look at the other aspects, but particularly for this matter I think I cannot give comment because it is a very sensitive matter,” he said.