Shillong Jun 3: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Monday inspected Nongpoh Civil Hospital prior to the review meeting with officials of the Health Department in the presence of Health Minister A L Hek and other legislators and officers.

The Chief Minister informed that the government has accorded priority to health sector and would ensure effective delivery of health care services to the people.

“The government has launched a programme to provide free medicine to the patients in different government hospitals and health care centres and towards this effect a significant increase of budget has been allocated for the health department,” informed the Chief Minister, while urging the officials and hospital administration to ensure effective delivery of the services to benefit the people at large.

He also informed that visits to different health centres would be initiated by the Chief Minister along with officials on a regular basis to assess the ground scenario and come up with remedial measures to improve health care delivery system in Meghalaya.

He also told the gathering that measures would be taken by the government to increase manpower and development of infrastructure in health care institutions to facilitate effective and better services.

Taking stock of the Nongpoh Civil Hospital, the Chief Minister lamented over the lack of adequate space to accommodate patients.

During the review meeting, the Chief Minister discussed with officials of the Health Department to find out remedial measures to take care of the need to increase the number of patients in the district hospital.

Highlighting the flagship programme – Megha Health Insurance Scheme (MHIS), the Chief Minister instructed the department for effective implementation and ensure all citizens covered under the scheme are registered in a phased manner.

The Chief Minister also said that the government will adopt an ‘online’ system for indenting medicines to improve efficiency in the supply of medicines to different Districts, PHCs, CHCs and Sub-Centres.

“The system slated to be implemented in about three month’s time, will allow for data analytics and monitoring of usage trends. Storage space for medicines will be created in all the districts to ensure adequate stocks of medicines,” he added.

The Chief Minister also informed that the Trauma Centre at Nongpoh Civil Hospital which has been non functional for the past decade, will be made functional within the next 45 days with necessary manpower and additional funds sanctioned for the same.

The review meeting was attended by all MLAs of Ri-Bhoi District, Deputy Commissioner, and officials from the Health Department.