SHILLONG: Opposition leader Dr Donkupar Roy said that the high infant mortality rate is an indicator of the poor status of the health care system in the State.
As per the statistics of 2010, he said that Meghalaya recorded the highest percentage of infant mortality rate compared to other States of the region.
While the infant mortality rate in Meghalaya is as high as 55 percent, he said that the mortality rate in other North Eastern States are Manipur (14 percent), Nagaland (23 percent), Sikkim (30 percent), Mizoram (37 percent) and Tripura (27 percent).
He said that the Government needs to revamp the health care system for the overall interest of the common people of the State especially the poor people who are totally dependent on the Government run health institution.
“The Government needs to revamp the various Primary Health Centres (PHCs) with adequate staff and medicines,” Opposition leader said. While suggesting on the need to set up more Sub Health Centres, Dr Roy also said that the Government needs to further strengthen the Shillong Civil Hospital with all necessary testing facilities. “It is really sad that the people are still being asked to go to the private hospitals to do many of the test since the equipments which are required are not available at the Shillong Civil Hospital,” he said.
He also said that the State Government also needs to re-design the Meghalaya Health Insurance Scheme (MHIS). “At present, there are thousands of families who are yet to be covered since the scheme is not well planned. The Government needs to take step to see all the people who are eligible are covered under the scheme,” Opposition leader said.