SHILLONG: North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) is looking to adopt Community Health Centres and provide health services at the community level.
“We are looking forward to setting up rural and even urban health centres. We are keen to… provide health services to the people at the community level,” NEIGRIHMS director DM Thappa said while addressing a regional consultation programme to mark the World Health Day 2018 organised jointly by the institute and the World Health Organisation’s country office.
He said the government can help identify such centres.
Stating that NEIGRIHMS is giving manpower to Meghalaya and all other northeastern states, Thappa said the institute has been the preferential choice for MBBS courses by students in these states and called on his team members to set higher standards in healthcare.
Health Minister AL Hek urged NEIGRIHMS to start Post Graduate programmes for doctors to solve the problem of lack of specialists in the state and in the region as a whole.
World Health Organisation South-East Asia Region’s Director Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh said the promise of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is a bold decision that ensures people get access to quality health services without suffering financial hardship.
“Healthier populations in turn create more productive economies that raise living standards. UHC will help achieve a healthier, more equitable and secure South-East Asia Region,” she said.
WHO representative to India Dr Henk Bekedam said UHC has the potential to contribute to India’s overall social and economic growth.
“India is firmly and steadily moving forward on the path to UHC and WHO as a partner is committed to working with the government and other stakeholders in successfully navigating this journey towards a Swastha and Samriddha Bharat(Healthy and Prosperous India),” she said.
The event was also attended by Patricia Mukhim, Editor of The Shillong Times, Toki Blah, President, ICARE Foundation, and representatives from WHO, local universities, colleges and other key stakeholders.
