SHILLONG, Dec 9: The Meghalaya Cabinet on Tuesday approved two key healthcare policies — the Meghalaya Pharmacists Service Rules and the Meghalaya Mental Health Care Rules — marking a major step towards enhancing healthcare delivery and regulatory frameworks in the state.

Speaking to reporters after chairing the cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said the Pharmacists Service Rules will govern the recruitment and service conditions of pharmacists employed under the government.

“The rules were framed for the Meghalaya Pharmacists Service Rules, which will govern the recruitment and service conditions of pharmacists in the state. We did not have service rules for the Meghalaya pharmacists, so those rules were approved today by the Cabinet,” he said.

In another significant decision, the cabinet adopted the Meghalaya Mental Health Care Rules, which will establish governance and operational guidelines for mental healthcare and rehabilitation institutions.

“These rules are very important as we have different institutions dealing with healthcare, rehabilitation and other mental health care activities, and as a state, we did not have rules to operate or govern or no policy was in place. So, today we have passed those rules,” Sangma explained.

He said the new framework introduces a regulatory mechanism to monitor and manage mental health facilities across the state. “We have come up with a mechanism which will mandate and regulate the overall health institutions that are there — that is the whole purpose,” he added.