SHILLONG, May 8: As Meghalaya’s healthcare system still faces a number of challenges in providing proper healthcare services to its citizens due to limited infrastructure, scarcity of medical facilities, shortage of healthcare professionals etc, the state government has come up with the Meghalaya Healthcare Advancement Policy.
Speaking with The Shillong Times on the initiative, Health Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh said the policy aims to comprehensively strengthen healthcare infrastructure in the state by providing financial assistance to tertiary health facilities, including private and private-public hospitals operating through trusts, missionaries, NGOs, etc.
The objective of the policy is to bridge gaps in operational expenditures, facilitate the procurement of key hospital equipment, and support essential costs, ultimately enabling these healthcare facilities to provide key services to residents that are otherwise not available in the state.
By doing so, the government strives to create a robust healthcare ecosystem that meets the diverse needs of its citizens and eliminates the need to seek treatment elsewhere, thereby promoting the well-being of its people.
“Furthermore, the collaboration can result in numerous benefits. First, it allows the optimal utilisation of resources, reducing the strain on government hospitals and health facilities in addressing the issue of overcrowding. Moreover, private hospitals can offer specialised services and advanced treatments, which may not be readily available in government healthcare facilities,” the minister said, highlighting that this will also lead to knowledge sharing and skill enhancement among healthcare professionals.
The policy also aims to support the strengthening and expansion of healthcare services with a special focus on services such as Computed Tomography (CT) Scan, In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), Advanced Cancer Care, Open Heart Bypass Surgery, Organ Transplant, Dialysis, Rehabilitation Centres for Substance Abusers which are either unavailable or have very limited availability.
As of now, five hospitals such as Holy Cross Tura, Christian Mission Tura, Nazareth Shillong, Gordon and Norman Tunnel Jowai have been selected for a financial assistance of Rs 2 crore each.
“This is an incentive to strengthen their infrastructure and, in turn, reach citizens. All MHIS coverage is included,” she said.