Editor,
This is in response to the Letter to the Editor written by Francis Khonglah, Ex-IRS Officer, published in your newspaper on the 26th April 2023. The concerned has expressed his disagreement on the engagement of a private primary healthcare provider, questioning the credibility of the private healthcare company, Gramin Healthcare, and the intention of the government to bring in such an initiative into the State.
Across the country, private healthcare is focused in big cities only. Due to the lack of primary healthcare delivery in rural areas, the common people from rural villages are forced to travel to the cities when in need of health services, thus wasting his day’s wages and bearing extra travel costs. Hence, the Government of Meghalaya is taking proactive steps for strengthening public health facilities by creation of several new health facilities in remote areas across the State.
In addition to these efforts, the Government also brought this last mile healthcare solution using innovative models through private primary healthcare providers to the rural and remote areas, where villagers can easily have access to a doctor, basic diagnostic services and a pharmacy – all in one place and at a reasonable cost. The idea is to provide more options for rural communities with a mix of both public health centres and private clinics, with the intention to make healthcare accessible and affordable for all. However, this does not mean that it has stopped improving facilities at the public health centres.
Currently, there are 20 villages across the State where Gramin Healthcare Clinics are present, providing the comfort of a consultation with a doctor and being checked by a nurse, and sometimes witnessing a patient having their first eye test at these clinics. Close to about 4000 patients from the clinic locations as well as surrounding villages have accessed standard health services from these clinics. The contentment and general appreciation of people with the services provided at these clinics is already testified in the article published.
It is also none but the nurses, pharmacists, centre managers from the State who provide services at these clinics. Close to 100 youths from the State have gained employment from Gramin Healthcare since the clinics were scaled up across the State in August 2022. The false narrative of bringing consultants, etc is not just unnecessary but misleading and incorrect.
Enabled by the government, Gramin started its first pilot clinic at Sohrarim in April 2020 after it showed interest in serving in the rural areas. All expenditures for the pilot were borne by the company itself. The good response from the community prompted the government to scale up this model across the State. Gramin was selected via an RFP that was floated by the government on the 16th December 2021, details of which are available on a public domain (https://mbda.gov.in/rfp-selection-agency-setting-and-running-healthcare-centers-20-locations-across-state-meghalaya).
A good healthcare delivery system requires both private and public intervention for quick and increased coverage. False accusations such as those made by Mr. Khonglah would not only impede the objective of the government but also mislead people. It may also be suggested that media houses could verify the facts with the concerned department or study on the ground before publishing such responses to articles.
T G Momin
Joint Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya
Health and Family Welfare Department
