Shillong, Sept 15: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Tuesday inaugurated three Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) to provide primary and preventive healthcare services to 93 villages across Mawpat, Pynursla and Baghmara.
The units, supported by Altius under its corporate social responsibility initiative and implemented by Apollo Foundation–Total Health, are expected to serve a combined population of over 2 lakh people, according to baseline catchment mapping by the foundation.
Of the 93 villages identified, 45 are in Mawpat, 26 in Pynursla and 22 in Baghmara. Mawpat and Pynursla are Community and Rural Development Blocks in East Khasi Hills, while Baghmara is in South Garo Hills.
Staffed by doctors and trained medical personnel, the MMUs will provide consultations, basic diagnostic services, medicines, follow-up care and technology-enabled electronic medical record services. Patients requiring specialised treatment or further investigation will be referred to higher healthcare facilities.
The programme will focus particularly on screening and management of non-communicable diseases, health education and early detection. Cancer screening and vision care will also be provided based on community needs.
Speaking at the inauguration, Sangma said improving access to healthcare has remained a government priority since 2018.
“While infrastructure and GDP are important, it is meaningless if the benefits cannot reach every citizen. That is why health and education have been given top priority,” he said.
The Chief Minister said technology had played an important role in addressing gaps in the health and education sectors. He, however, stressed that the success of the MMUs would depend on actual service delivery.
“Launching the ambulance is the easiest part. The real happiness will come when we save lives, when we are able to provide that medicine to the child, when we are able to attend to the poor, the needy and the elders,” Sangma said.
He said the initiative would have little meaning if the vehicles remained unused.
“It’s not about the Foundation, not about the ambulance, not about the doctors — it’s about the patient and the lives that we save,” he said, describing the initiative as a potential “major game changer” for last-mile healthcare delivery in Meghalaya.
Sangma also highlighted the need for better digital connectivity to support technology-enabled healthcare services, referring to feedback received through his CM Connect public interaction programme.
Altius and Apollo Foundation–Total Health said they would continue working with the Meghalaya Government to strengthen the state’s public healthcare system and expand access to underserved areas.
