By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Sep 12: The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) on Friday voiced serious concern over the hardships faced by patients at Shillong Civil Hospital, particularly the repeated postponement of surgeries due to inadequate infrastructure.
A delegation led by HYC president Roy Kupar Synrem met the Joint DHS in charge of the hospital, Dr Angel Paswet, to highlight complaints received from patients.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Synrem said there have been several instances in the past two to three months where patients scheduled for surgery were turned away on the appointed day and asked to return on another date.
“Most of these patients come from low-income families and from far-flung areas of Khasi and Jaintia Hills. When their operations are postponed, they not only suffer mental stress but also face heavy financial burdens for travel, food, and lodging,” he stated.
Synrem pointed out that Shillong Civil Hospital, one of the largest public hospitals in the state, has only one operation theatre catering to multiple departments, including orthopaedics.
The hospital management, he said, admitted that when too many patients are listed for surgery on the same day, doctors are unable to attend to all cases.
During the meeting, the Joint DHS acknowledged the problem but assured that steps are being taken to improve planning and scheduling. According to Synrem, the hospital management recently convened a meeting to resolve the issue and promised that surgeries fixed for a particular date will henceforth be conducted on that day.
The HYC, however, maintained that a single operation theatre is inadequate for a hospital with more than 500 beds and an attached Cancer Centre. Synrem said the organisation has suggested setting up at least two or three additional operation theatres and would also write to the Health Department on the matter.
He further reminded that in the 2025–26 state budget, nearly 8% of the total allocation was earmarked for the Health Department. “If the government is serious about strengthening health services and reducing the need for patients to seek treatment outside Meghalaya, such basic issues must be addressed urgently,” he added.
