More facilities on cards: Mukul
SHILLONG: Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said on Friday there is a need to upgrade medical facilities at Shillong civil hospital to make it the “ultimate referral centre”.
“The referral part should be the rarest because the whole structure of the referral system ultimately ends at the tertiary referral centre,” said Sangma, who inaugurated the dialysis unit at the hospital on Friday.
The chief minister admitted that it is a challenge to make the hospital the ultimate referral centre and suggested that all departments should look at the requirements necessary to deliver quality healthcare service.
“Only for the rarest of the rare cases should this hospital refer patients (to other medical centres),” Sangma said.
The new unit at the hospital will cater to the poor who cannot afford private healthcare.
Patients are compelled to go out of the State for better treatment and Sangma felt the need to address the issue.
“Patients are often referred to district civil hospitals (from PHCs and CHCs), but these hospitals are not being able to act as referral centres compelling patients to search for other referral centres in places like Assam’s Goalpara and Guwahati,” the chief minister said.
On the congestion at Shillong Civil Hospital, Sangma said it is admitting patients more than its capacity and “we should not ask civil hospital to take more than what it can take.”
On resource constraints, he said, “Resources will remain a challenge as in Meghalaya, resources are limited.”
Referring to Ganesh Das Hospital, in which the government has invested a substantial amount of money, Sangma said it looked better than a private hospital now and announced a state-of-the-art intensive care unit at the hospital that was recently rechristened Ganesh Das Government Maternal and Child Health Hospital.
Urging the doctors at the civil hospital, Sangma said since technology is upgraded daily, doctors should be well-informed about this.
Terming Shillong civic hospital as an iconic institution, NEC Secretary Ram Muivah said there are four components – the dialysis unit, endoscopic unit, major operation theatre upgradation and establishment of 10-bedded emergency and casualty wards – which have been created in the hospital. The dialysis unit built at the cost of Rs 1crore 50 lakh was funded by NEC.
“Out of the Rs 4.98 crore for all components, NEC’s share of 90 per cent was Rs 4.48 crore. So far we have released more or less the entire amount and the remaining amount, which is a few lakhs of rupees, will be released after the hospital provides the utilisation certificate,” he added.
Health Minister Roshan Warjri said the hospital has expanded to a great extent though initially there were many constraints.
“Apart from professional treatment, doctors are helping the patients in different areas and we do not hear many complaints from patients,” she added.