Shillong, Sept 3: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma along with Health Minister A L Hek called on Union Health and Family Welfare Minister, Jagat Prakash Nadda at his residence in New Delhi in the presence of officials from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
A statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office said that during the meeting, a slew of development initiatives with regards to improvement of health infrastructure in Meghalaya were discussed and a memorandum was also submitted by the Chief Minister and the Health Minister.

Hek apprised the Union Minister that critical infrastructure was being created with the support of the Centre, which has created an enabling environment and a fillip in primary, secondary and tertiary health care in the State.

Hek also sought Union Minister’s intervention on setting up on Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) Centre at Jowai.

The meeting with Nadda was fruitful and positive as the Union Minister assured to extend all possible support from the Ministry to enhance medical services in the State.

Nadda assured that all support from the Ministry will be provided to Meghalaya for providing care to HIV/AIDS patients.

Meghalaya Chief Minister apprised the Union Health Minister on the recently passed Free Drugs Policy by the State government and has sought for additional funds for purchase of notified life saving drugs.

Issue related to upgradation of several PHCs, CHCs and sub-health centres was also discussed at length with specific request for upgradation of Ganesh Das Government Hospital in Shillong and infrastructure support for Cancer Care Wing in the State.

A special request was also made for setting up of specialized physiotherapy and sports injury centre in the State with regards to the upcoming National Games in Meghalaya in 2022. The Union Health Minister has assured that all support to impart training would be provided by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The Chief Minister and Health Minister also expressed their gratefulness to Nadda for the sanction of Rs. 189 crore for Tura Medical College and has requested for the revised estimates to be considered, which is Rs. 244 crore.

On the issue of non-functional equipments in health care institutes in Meghalaya, the Union Health Minister has suggested for availing the benefit of Bio Medical Maintenance Programme, wherein an MoU with an agency has to be signed for annual maintenance contract, which will be funded by the Ministry.

The issue of development of NEIGRIHMS was discussed at length with the Union Health Minister to which, he assured that necessary interventions will be made for improvement of the institute and solve several pending issues with regards to the administrative functioning of the institute.