Health and Family Welfare Minister James Sangma had to face a bit of a grilling from newcomer MLA Eugeneson Lyngdoh today, with the latter accusing the minister of misleading the Assembly.
Lyngdoh asked Sangma if the state’s norms are in accordance with the Indian Public Health Standards to which the minister responded in the affirmative. Lyngdoh, the former footballer turned Mawphlang MLA, then said that Sangma has misled the house in one particular case, that of the Community Health Centre in his own constituency where there are four vacant posts for doctors.
Sangma explained that there is a shortage of specialised doctors across Meghalaya and these vacant posts are for such professionals.
Meanwhile, Sangma informed that the budget for 2022-23 has allocated Rs 158.86 crore for the upgrade and creation of CHCs, Primary Health Centres, district hospitals and health sub-centres, which is more than double 2021-22’s allocation of Rs 72.78 crore.
However, the minister admitted that not all of the 336 proposals received from MLAs and others for upgrades would be possible this year.
“We will try to ensure that as many of these proposals can be taken up but that does not mean that all 336 will see the light of day,” he said.
Sangma also clarified that the amount earmarked under the budget will also include the procurement of medical machinery.
Meanwhile, Jowai MLA Wailadmiki Shylla also raised a concern about the health centre in Ummulong. Shylla said that, as it says on the signboard outside, the facility was upgraded from PHC to CHC in 2001. However, the legislator claimed that this upgrade was in name alone, as the infrastructure, medical supplies, equipment and staff numbers remain the same as before and are inadequate.
Sangma also informed the Assembly that certain nurses appointed by the government as a stop-gap will lose their jobs once the formal recruitment process for 202 staff nurses is carried out. The department has already conducted exams for the vacant posts and the results are awaited.
Over 4,600 applications were received for the 202 vacancies when the job advertisement was placed in October last year.
