By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, March 23: Legislators cutting across party lines on Thursday stressed the need to improve the health facilities in the state starting from upgrading the existing health centres and PHCs to CHCs.
Inquiring about the proposal submitted to the state government for a new health centre to be set up at Landongdai, Independent MLA from Rambrai Jyrngam, Remington Gabil Momin said the villager is far from the existing PHCs and setting up a health sub-centre there would ease the troubles of the villagers to a great extent.
He also asked if the existing health centre at Siminaguri Mallangkona would be upgraded to a PHC.
Health Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh told the MLA that his concerns and suggestions have been noted for improving the health sector in the years to come.
Raising a supplementary question, the UDP’s Mawsynram legislator, Olan Singh Suin asked if the Sawsymper sub-centre would be upgraded to a PHC. Lyngdoh answered in the affirmative.
Mawhati’s Congress MLA, Charles Marngar asked if the state government has any intention to create more CHCs in Meghalaya.
“A list of 118 proposals from various members of the House and other quarters have been received by our department and we have tasked our officials to look into these proposals and rationalise,” Lyngdoh replied.
“We also have to consider certain weightage for all these proposals. We have to look at the population distribution, geographical location, accessibility, the IPD and OPD caseloads, and the institutional delivery scenario,” she said.
“We are also looking at various missions of the state and the Centre besides financing from the 15th Finance Commission. App possible sources of resources are being explored to ensure the best health services in the state,” she added.
Informing the House that the state government is guided by the Indian penal head standards, Lyngdoh said:
“We are aware of the norms and requirements for upgrading various facilities.”
“We are now looking at wellness centres. So, it is very complicated for us to commit to upgrading the PHCs to CHCs,” she observed, adding that the department intends to provide the best facilities.
She assured the members that their proposals would be studied for feasibility and implementation.
Marngar reminded the minister of an application submitted to the department for upgrading the Mawhati PHC to a CHC.
Congress MLA from Nongstoin, Gabriel Wahlang also enquired about the status of the newly inaugurated Nongkynjang PHC. Lyngdoh iterated that it would be difficult to commit when the department has received 118 proposals and said the information should be placed in the House.
The VPP’s Mawryngkneng MLA, Heaving Stone Kharpran asked about the commitment made by the former health minister to upgrade the Sohryngkham sub-centre to a PHC.
NPP legislator from Kharkutta, Rupert Momin requested the department to take up the repairing of the Adokgre PHC and the construction of its boundary wall.
PDF chief and Mawkynrew legislator, Banteidor Lyngdoh said schemes were sanctioned for many sub-centres under the NHM for 2022-2023. He wanted to know how many sub-centres have been created across the state.
“I will require notice for that too,” Lyngdoh said.