SHILLONG: The public private partnership (PPP) model has emerged as an important measure to reform the healthcare sector in Meghalaya in the last few years.
The state government has handed over two community health centres, 19 primary health centres and a state dispensary, besides sub-health units, to various NGOs since 2009 and “the results have been encouraging”, sources in the Health Department said.
The non-governmental organisations operate the less performing health units by enhancing human resource for “promotive, preventive and curative healthcare services specialising in reproductive and child health and outreach activities”.
The EMRI 108 service with its fleet of 43 ambulances has been a success story. The PPP initiative has also been utilised under the National Health Mission for free diagnostic and radiology services.
The departmental sources said it is imperative that all health facilities are fully functional for improvement in institutional deliveries, which is only 54 per cent as per HMIS data of 2017-18 of the Ministry of Home and Family Welfare and better maternal and child healthcare, and care of the sick and infirm, besides effective implementation of health schemes.
“Exploring public private partnership in running health facilities with fixed monthly financial and programmatic support will be critical for enabling quality healthcare, which is accessible and affordable. The not-for-profit NGO from the social sector brings in trained manpower, including doctors, and takes responsibility for the implementation and success of all government and other programmes. Their success in securing high quality standards and good practices sustainably has led to many of these NGO-run health facilities perform better in critical health indicators in the outreach areas,” the sources added.
Currently, many health facilities like 100-bed Jowai MCH and 50-bed Nongstoin MCH need to be made functional. There are also other health centres in difficult areas like Jengjal, Chibinang and Dainadubi which have to be made functional where post creation has been initiated. In PPP mode, the HR can be deployed elsewhere augmenting health facilities in other deficient health facilities.
The PPP policy can also be extended to AYUSH integrated health facilities and wellness centres which are coming up in Sohra and Nongpoh and for hand holding of IPDs and OPDs of AYUSH.
