By Eric Ranee
NONGPOH: Ri Bhoi District finally got its first super speciality hospital when the Bethany Hospital Outreach was ianugurated here on Saturday.
Bethany Hospital Outreach has been set up by Director of Bethany Hospital, Shillong, Dr John L Sailo Ryntathiang. The over 100-bedded hospital, which will become functional from August 18, was inaugurated by Chief Adviser to Meghalaya Government and local MLA, DD Lapang.
Health Minister AL Hek, Parliamentary Secretary C Lyngdoh and Ri Bhoi Deputy Commissioner, Pooja Pandey were also present on the occasion.
The newly inaugurated hospital has 94 beds in the general ward and 15 in private ward besides a four-bedded ICU.
The hospital is equipped with two operation theatres, computerized X-Ray machine, ultrasound facility, clinical pathological laboratory, provisions for care for the newborn and a 24-hour pharmacy.
Dr Sailo informed that the hospital will offer specialised trwatment in medicine, surgery, trauma care, orthopedics, gynaecology, obstetrics, paediatrics, etc.
Dr Sailo also recalled the incident which forced him into introspection and finally led him to the decision to set up the super specialty hospital at his land in Ri Bhoi. “An unfortunate incident occurred when a woman, who was tending the land on which the hospital has been constructed, was struck by a complicated cerebral malaria way back in 2007. She was being brought to Shillong in an ambulance alongside another patient who was also very ill. Unfortunately, the other patient died in the ambulance while it halted at a petrol pump,” the Director of Bethany Hospital Outreach recollected adding that the incident eventually led him to “use his land for the benefit of others.”
People from Ri Bhoi are usually forced to travel to either Guwahati or Shillong in case of medical complications.
The super specialty hospital has been set up to meet to an extent, the ever growing demand for better health care facilities in the district.
Dr Sailo also expressed hope that tie ups with Meghalaya Health Insurance Schemes and SBI-Insurance Scheme will facilitate the people of the area to avail the medical services.