NEW DELHI: State Health Minister AL Hek on Monday met Union Minister for Heath and Family Welfare, Harsh Vardhan, and placed a demand for Rs 23 crore to fund various projects including construction of two hospitals and purchase of ambulances.
Making the demand for fund, Hek informed the Union minister about the state’s proposal to set up a 100-bedded hospital in Jowai and a 50-bedded one in Nongstoin. He also sought the Centre’s cooperation in setting up a blood bank at Tura and a state-ofthe-art training institute in Shillong.
Hek also apprised the Union minister of the need to provide state-of-the-art medical equipment to two mother and child hospitals in West Jaintia Hills and West Khasi Hills.
Hek spoke to the Union minister about the development initiatives undertaken by the state government with regard to improvement of health infrastructure in Meghalaya. He stated that critical infrastructure was being created with the support of the Centre, which has led to an enabling environment and has given fillip to primary, secondary and tertiary health care facilities in the state.
Speaking to media persons later, Hek said the meeting with Harsh Vardhan was fruitful and positive, stating that the Union minister has assured to extend all possible support to enhance medical services in the state. He also said that the state government is going for sustainable development goals by 2030. The state has seen improvements in reducing infant and mother mortality rate, Hek said. But these giant steps can be sustained only with full support of the Union Health Ministry, he added.