CAG report tabled in Assembly
SHILLONG: The monitoring of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) by the State Health Mission headed by Chief Minister Mukul Sangma was absent and that by the State Health Society headed by the Chief Secretary was minimal, the CAG report said on Friday.
The report pointed out that the State has not accorded the required priority to the healthcare sector.
“Considering that there is a strong correlation between facilities created and health outcomes (infant mortality rate, maternal mortality ratio and total fertility rate), the deficiencies were responsible in preventing the State from achieving the targets set by the Government of India,” the CAG report stated.
The report pointed to the shortages in availability of required healthcare facilities such as Public Health Centres and Sub-Centres, unavailability of essential drugs, lack of infrastructure in the health facilities and equipment lying unutilized, among other things.
Required infrastructure facilities like operation theatres, blood banks, water supply, telephone connections were not available in selected healthcare centres. Facilities were lying unutilised due to want of skilled personnel.
A large number of pregnant women did not show up for the antenatal care while a number of them did not receive full dose of iron folic acid tablets. About 51 per cent of registered pregnant women preferred delivery at home.
Mismatch of data as per the Health Management Information System and data as per original records maintained at the healthcare facilities was noticed.