From Our Correspondent
TURA, May 5: In a bid to strengthen healthcare infrastructure in the region, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma handed over the first instalment of financial assistance to Tura Christian Hospital and Holy Cross Hospital in Tura on Monday.
A cheque of Rs 1 crore each was presented to the two non-profit hospitals at a function held at the Working Women’s Hostel, Mission Compound, Tura, marking a progressive step towards improved public-private collaboration in healthcare delivery in Meghalaya.
The financial assistance, totaling Rs 2 crore, is part of the Meghalaya Health Advancement Policy aimed at supporting non-profit hospitals across the state. The funding will be utilised for the development and enhancement of healthcare infrastructure in these hospitals.
Speaking at the event, the chief minister also lauded the invaluable services rendered by Tura Christian Hospital and urged the institution to continue its commitment to quality healthcare. Highlighting the government’s broader plans to overhaul the state’s healthcare sector, he announced that Shillong Medical College is set to begin operations by September 2025, while Tura Medical College is expected to start by September 2026.
Addressing the persistent challenges of power supply in the region, the chief minister noted that although load-shedding has been significantly reduced, transmission issues remain. He informed that three new power substations are under development in the Garo Hills region to mitigate the problem.
The chief minister also introduced the CM Care Plus scheme, which provides financial assistance ranging from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 10 lakh for critical medical procedures such as organ transplants and cancer treatment, subject to the availability of funds.
In a notable policy shift, he further announced that medical doctors serving in hospitals like Tura Christian Hospital would now be considered to have fulfilled their bond requirements under government service obligations.