SHILLONG: There are more shortcomings in the running of the Shillong Civil Hospital than what Health Minister Roshan Warjri detected during her surprise visit to the hospital on Wednesday.
Though there were talks about setting up a round-the-clock pharmacy at Civil Hospital, it is yet to materialise.
Sources said the proposals for the 24×7 pharmacy and a canteen inside the hospital are pending with the Planning Department for at least two years.
The 24×7 pharmacy would have saved many lives as relatives of critical patients in the hospital need not have to search for medicines during emergency as they do now because they have no other option.
Moreover, there was demand from several quarters to set up an ATM at Civil Hospital which would have eased the problems related to payment of bills.
Sources said the Civil Hospital does not provide medicines for cancer patients though it charges Rs 500 for treatment of each patient. Now patients have to bank on private medical shops. Sources wanted to know in what manner the hospital is utilising the money.
Following media reports about the inspection by the Health Minister to the Civil Hospital, the Meghalaya United Women’s Welfare Organisation president, Aruna Biswa, visited the hospital on Thursday and found that there were no adequate toilets for women patients in the general ward.
While appreciating the move of the Health Minister to streamline the system, Biswa urged the government to address the various concerns of the cancer patients, besides setting up a 24×7 pharmacy and ATM at the hospital.
