The foundation stone of the first Indian Institute of Public Health in the North-East and the fourth such institute in the country was laid at Mawdiangdiang by the Chief Minister, Dr Donkupar Roy on 10 June 2008. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was also signed between the Meghalaya Government represented by Chief Secretary Mr. Ranjan Chatterjee and Dr K Srinath Reddy, President of the Public Health Foundation of India in the presence of the Chief Minister and State Planning Board Chairman Mr. PA Sangma.

The institute will help in raising the bar in areas of health management and education. Civil society has expressed an urgent need to start research on malaria and cancer as there is a rise in the number of deaths related to both these diseases and IIPH Shillong is as a response to the emerging public health challenges and concerns in the region. IIPH recognises that meeting the shortfall of health professionals is imperative to a sustained and holistic response to the public health concerns in the country.