SHILLONG: Chief Minister Conrad Sangma called on Union Health and Family Welfare Minister, Jagat Prakash Nadda with State Health Minister A L Hek at his residence in New Delhi in presence of officials from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
The meeting with Nadda was fruitful and positive as he assured to extend all possible support from the Ministry to enhance medical services in the State.
During the meeting a slew of development initiatives with regards to improvement of health infrastructure in Meghalaya were discussed at length and a memorandum to this effect was submitted by the Chief Minister and Health Minister.
State Health Minister A L Hek apprised the Union Minister that critical infrastructure were being created with the support of the centre, which has created an enabling environment and a fillip in primary, secondary and tertiary health care in the State.
Hek also sought Union Minister’s intervention on setting up on Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) Centre at Jowai. Nadda has assured that all support from the Ministry will be provided to Meghalaya for providing care to HIV/AIDS patients.
Meghalaya Chief Minister has apprised Union Health Minister on the recently passed Free Drugs Policy by the State government and has sought for additional funds for purchase of notified life saving drugs.
Issue related to upgradation of several PHCs, CHCs and sub-health centres was discussed at length with specific request for upgradation of Ganesh Das Hospital Shillong and infrastructure support for Cancer Care Wing in the State.
A special request was also made for setting up of specialised physiotherapy and sports injury centre in the State with regards to the upcoming National Games in Meghalaya in 2022.
Union Health Minister has assured that all support to impart training would be provided by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
The Chief Minister and Health Minister also expressed their gratefulness to Nadda for the sanction of Rs. 189 cr for Tura Medical College and requested for the revised estimate of Rs 244 crore to be considered.
On the issue of non-functional equipment in health care institutes in Meghalaya, the Union Health Minister has suggested for availing the benefit of Bio-Medical Maintenance Programme, wherein a MoU with an agency has to be signed for annual maintenance contract, which will be funded by the Ministry.
The issue of development of NEIGRIHMS was discussed at length with the Union Health Minister to which Nadda had assured that necessary interventions would be made for improvement of the institute and resolving several pending issues with regards to administrative functioning.
Sangma also met Union Minister of State Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri along with State Urban Development Minister Hamletson Dohling.
In the meeting, a number of issues were discussed with regards to Smart City funding for Meghalaya, issues of funding under 15th Finance Commission, pending release under 10 % lump sum and additional fund allocation for Laitumkhrah and Polo Market in Shilling.
Singh was very positive to all the concerns raised and has assured full support and cooperation to improve urban facilities and amenities in Meghalaya.