31 CHCs to be upgraded into referral centres

SHILLONG, April 30: As many as 31 community health centres (CHCs) in the state will be converted into first referral units to tackle emergency surgeries and other health concerns. A total of 10 CHCs would be identified in the first phase.
Disclosing this information on Sunday, Secretary of Health, Ramkumar S. said 30 doctors are currently in Chennai attending a six-month training in specific areas like Ultra Sonography, live saving skills, emergency observatory care, Cesarean delivery (C-section), etc.
Once these doctors return to the state in June, they will be deployed in the selected CHCs, Ramkumar said.
The department has mooted the idea of first referral units to ensure that pregnant mothers do not have to travel more than 45 minutes to 1 hour for delivery. It would also reduce the burden on Ganesh Das Hospital.
In addition, the Health Department also wants to convert 14410 Covid helpline number into a full-fledged helpline for any kind of health issues, Ramkumar said while adding that the government will also open an online portal for the Meghalaya Drugs Corporation online so that patients are able to figure out if certain medicines are available or not.