Health officials led by Health Secretary Ram Kumar S recently conducted an extensive five-day visit to health facilities in various districts of Meghalaya from April 11 to April 15 to monitor the functions of the health facilities and ensure adequate healthcare services to the people.
The visit covered East and West Jaintia Hills, East Khasi Hills, Ri-Bhoi, North Garo Hills, East Garo Hills, South Garo Hills, West Garo Hills and South West Garo Hills.
During the visit, officials interacted with staff and reviewed various parameters, such as outpatient load, in-patient load, number of staff, number and causes of deaths, maternal and infant deaths, immunisation coverage, institutional delivery percentage and outreach initiatives for non-communicable diseases.
The purpose was to understand the issues faced by health facilities and find ways to improve the overall healthcare system. The officials also inspected the infrastructure, equipment, and medicines in the facilities to ensure efficient functioning. Diagnostic labs were thoroughly examined to ensure better test results and improved treatment outcomes, a press release stated today.
Debriefings were held at the end of each day with district health officials to discuss various health programmes and initiatives that the state is implementing to streamline quality service delivery. The officials emphasised the importance of a proactive approach to healthcare and the need for timely interventions to ensure the well-being of the people.
The key takeaways from the visit for medical officers include keeping a plan on priority areas of infrastructure in their facilities, conversion of facilities to ‘First Referral Units’, optimum utilisation of schemes such as CM-SMS, strengthening of village health councils, checking the MOTHER App for information on high-risk mothers within their jurisdiction daily, increasing screening and treatment of children under RBSK, striving towards a TB-free village/health council/community, streamlining the drugs and diagnostics systems, proper utilisation of the Megha Health Insurance Scheme and prioritising comprehensive primary healthcare.
Kumar appreciated the efforts of the healthcare staff and assured them support in providing the necessary resources to improve the healthcare system in the state.
