Rural health centre, run on PPP mode, opens in EWK Hills
Shillong, Jan 16: Meghalaya’s budget allocation for health sector – 9% of the total budget – is highest in the country, chief minister Conrad Sangma said on Thursday.
This (budget allocation for health sector) is a reflection of the government’s commitment to transform the sector, he said while inaugurating a Rural Health Centre (RHC) at Myriaw in Eastern West Khasi Hills district.
Stating that health is one of the most challenging sectors, he said the infrastructure reformation taken up in the sector in the past seven years would make healthcare more accessible to the rural population.
Sports minister Shakliar Warjri and Rajya Sabha MP Dr WR Kharlukhi also attended the inauguration of the RHC which is run in a public-private partnership mechanism.
Myriaw RHC covers 21 villages and is run by Dr HG Roberts Hospital, Shillong, which operates three other RHCs in the state.
Under Chief Minister’s Special Rural Development Fund (CMSDF), ₹38 lakh was provided for construction of the hospital and another ₹38 lakh will be released (for the project).
Emphasising the role of collaborations in health sector, the chief minister said while the government is doing its work, support from community and well-meaning organisations such as Dr HG Roberts Hospital would help further improve healthcare accessibility in the state.
In appreciation of the hospital’s efforts in providing healthcare among the rural population, the chief minister announced that government support would be provided to the group to upgrade its infrastructure for Laser Lithotripsy service in Shillong.
