Towards a library consortium in Assam’s health-science institutions affiliated to SSUHS: Should SSUHS launch its own consortium like RGUHS, Karnataka?

The evolving landscape of health-sciences education requires equitable and cost-effective access to quality digital information resources. This paper assesses the feasibility of establishing a collaborative library consortium under the Srimanta Sankaradeva University of Health Sciences (SSUHS), Assam, inspired by the successful HELINET (Health Science Library and Information Network) consortium model of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS), Karnataka. Through a descriptive–analytical approach based on secondary data from institutional websites, official notifications, and consortium documentation, the paper outlines the digital access readiness of SSUHS-affiliated institutions and compares their infrastructure with that of HELINET. The findings reveal significant disparities in digital preparedness and consortium participation among Assam’s health-science institutions. Only 26 institutions show documented digital access, with fragmented membership in national networks such as NML-ERMED, DELNET, and DAE consortium. Despite these inconsistencies, sufficient infrastructural potential exists to develop a unified digital library network. The paper proposes a three-tier consortium framework for SSUHS encompassing centralised coordination, zonal hubs, and institutional nodes to facilitate shared licensing, equitable access, and collaborative capacity building. Policy and implementation recommendations include phased rollout, hybrid funding mechanisms, and interoperability with national consortia. The proposed SSUHS Library Consortium represents a scalable, cost-efficient, and inclusive strategy to enhance information equity and research visibility across Assam’s health-science education ecosystem, positioning SSUHS as a regional digital knowledge hub in Northeast India.