Group raises lacunae in Shillong Civil Hospital

SHILLONG, Jan 14: Highlighting Shillong Civil Hospital’s alleged failure in meeting expected service standards, the Federation of Khasi-Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP) has urged the state government to take immediate steps to improve the healthcare delivery system at Shillong Civil Hospital for the benefit of the state’s citizens.
FKJGP members, led by their president, Dundee C Khongsit, on Tuesday, claimed the hospital’s shortcomings in service delivery are adversely affecting people seeking treatment there.
During a meeting with the hospital’s medical superintendent, Khongsit emphasised the need for urgent measures to enhance the hospital’s functioning.
He highlighted that a significant portion of the population, particularly those from economically weaker sections, relies on Shillong Civil Hospital for treatment.
“Access to quality healthcare is a fundamental right of every citizen in the state,” Khongsit stated.
The FKJGP president revealed that, according to the medical superintendent, the hospital authorities have been raising concerns about the non-operational MRI machine with the government since 2018. However, no concrete steps have been taken to make it functional.
“If this is the state of healthcare in the capital, one can only imagine the condition of health centers in rural areas,” Khongsit remarked.
He also pointed out that no action had been taken to replace the pathologist who was transferred to Ganesh Das Hospital, leaving the hospital short-staffed. According to the medical superintendent, this staffing shortage has severely impacted the hospital’s ability to provide essential healthcare services.
The FKJGP has called on the government to address these issues promptly to ensure citizens receive the quality healthcare they deserve.