SHILLONG, June 27: The health sector in West Khasi Hills has been found wanting and the state government is exploring ways and means to address the lacunae so as to ensure better health facilities.
Informing that the first zonal meeting of MLAs in West Khasi Hills on the health scenario was held on Monday, Health minister Ampareen Lyngdoh said, “We were able to take onboard all four MLAs belonging to West Khasi Hills and had an extensive meeting, with the MLAs, Medical Officers, nursing staff, supervisors, DHS and NHM. A lot of queries on efficiency of health service centre in and around the district were deliberated over in the meeting.”
She said, based on inspection of various health facilities in West Khasi Hills, there is a need to look at the possibility of initiating a tuberculosis centre in the district and a full-fledged hospital.
According to her, there is also a problem of manpower. She said an appointment is due with the Chief Minister to discuss this issue.
“We will bring to his attention immediate requirement for specialist, super specialist and even MBBS doctors in our systems,” she said.
She also said that some of the areas in West Khasi Hills are far flung and unreachable, while 40% of the district alone does not have motorable access. She said there is a requirement to supply ambulances to these regions.
“We discussed the supply of medicines as well and will take it up with the Chief Minister. We need to figure out quickly how to ensure that indented medicines from the districts are going to reach the districts ASAP,” she said.
She added, “In the meanwhile, the new authority that has been in place is not fully functional so some amount of funds has been released to districts.”
