Shillong, Aug 24: Union Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar (in picture) said in the coming year 50 MBBS seats will be added in NEIGRIHMS and the annual intake will be 100 seats.
The minister took stock of the functioning of the health department as well as other central government sponsored schemes in Meghalaya, on Thursday.
As part of her visit Dr Pawar inspected NEIGRIHMS. She also held a review meeting with the officials and staff of NEIGRIHMS. Later in the day, she held a review meeting in presence of Meghalaya Health & Family Welfare Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh with officials of the Health & Family Welfare Department.
Interacting with the media after the meetings, Dr Pawar said that since last nine years the government has been consistently trying to strengthen tertiary care including primary and secondary care. She said the PM’s vision is to strengthen all the healthcare system through the central government schemes.
Since 2015, additional budget has been provided to NEIGRIHMS to develop the medical college, increase MBBS seats and strengthen the nursing college.
“In the coming year, 50 MBBS seats will be increased in the institute and the annual intake will be 100 seats and every year we are providing funds under different heads to strengthen the NEIGRIHMS”, the minister said.
Last year the budget was Rs 480 crore and this year it is Rs 528 crore. She appreciated the efforts of the institute to strengthen the radio therapy treatment unit among other facilities. She said the efforts of the central government has always been to strengthen the institute.
NHM initiatives with Rs 600 cr
Speaking about the implementation of schemes through National Health Mission, Dr Pawar said that through NHM the fund that has been provided to Meghalaya this year is around Rs 600 crore in the ratio of 90 per cent from the centre and 10 per cent from the state. She also informed that Under Emergency Covid Relief Package-1, the budget provided to control the pandemic was Rs 25 crore for Meghalaya and under Emergency Covid Relief Package-2 Rs 117 crore has been provided. Under 15th Finance Commission, the central government is providing Rs 150 crore to Meghalaya to strengthen Sub Centres and Health and Wellness Centres. “We must focus on preparedness and prevention as envisioned by the Prime Minister to be ready for the next Pandemic,” she added.
Mentioning about the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission, the minister said that through this scheme the government is focused to strengthen all primary, secondary and tertiary care. She also mentioned that with a budget of around Rs.64, 000 crore for the country, around Rs 150 crore is being allotted for Meghalaya for the next 4 years.
Under Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) around five lakh IDs have been created. “This helps the patients to take appointments, to get the lab reports digitally it will be helpful for the patients as well as the doctors to take the decisions for the patients,” she added.
PMJAY Meghalaya
In Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (PMJAY) Meghalaya, there are around 18 lakh beneficiaries and around five lakh cards have been distributed. The Minister asked every eligible beneficiary to come forward and take the benefit of PMJAY, the largest insurance scheme, under which a health cover of Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation is provided to poor and vulnerable families.
Giving an account of Health Health & Wellness centres the minister said, “Right now nearly 470 numbers of Health & Wellness centres are functional in Meghalaya. Health and wellness centre is a concept where we are focusing on screening and treatment also. In the Health & wellness centre we are also doing primary screening of hypertension, screening for detecting diabetes and screening of various cancers like oral and cervical cancer”, she said.
The minister appreciated the initiative of the Meghalaya government in successful implementation of tele-consultations in the state till date. The Regional Cancer Centre has been developed in NEIGRIHMS and the focus is to serve the patients suffering from cancer, she added. Appreciating the efforts of the ASHA workers, Dr Pawar said that around 7000 community health workers ASHA are providing dedicated service to provide health care in hard to reach areas of Meghalaya. The Minister lauded the efforts of the state government in reducing the IMR and MMR in the state through its various interventions.
The minister specifically appreciated the revolutionary initiative of using drone technology in providing medicines in remote villages of Meghalaya. The minister also appreciated the efforts put in for addressing the issue of high number of cancer patients through various anti-tobacco campaigns. The government, through its centrally sponsored schemes, is providing additional budgetary support to supplement the efforts of the states to implement various health activities, the Minister added.
Dr Pawar also called upon the Governor of Meghalaya Phagu Chauhan and Chief Minister Conrad Sangma later in the day.
The minister is scheduled to visit East Jaintia Hills on Friday to take stock of the implementation of various centre sponsored schemes.
