The Meghalaya High Court today lamented that after 75 years of independence the government-run health facilities in the State were primitive as they are now.
During hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) today on the deficiencies in the healthcare system in Meghalaya, the High Court said that there is no doubt that a lot more needs to be done to improve the healthcare facilities in the State.
“It is just not acceptable that after 75 years of independence the facilities would be as primitive as they are now. There is no doubt that funds are essential, but the lack of funds cannot be an excuse to perpetuate the lack of rudimentary medical facilities,” the division bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh observed.
“At present the situation is such that the affluent of the residents in Meghalaya seek medical assistance elsewhere and the rest may not have meaningful access to adequate facilities,” the court added.
The High Court also said that studies revealed that the incidence of cancer, particularly oral cancer, in Meghalaya was the highest in the country.
“A report published in the newspapers also reveals that smoking and drinking is the highest in the country in the North-East. Yet, there is no dedicated cancer hospital in the State. Though a cancer unit has been set up at the Civil Hospital in Shillong but it still does not have adequate equipment,” the court lamented.
On a roadmap prepared by the State government to indicate how improvements would be made in the healthcare system including on tackling cancer, the High Court said that lessons could be taken from some of the neighbouring states where multiple cancer treatment facilities are inaugurated on the same day to deal with the growing problem.
“There has to be an almost revolutionary improvement in the facilities to bring it at par with what is generally available in the rest of the country. Funds have to be found and extraordinary attempts have to be made for such purpose,” the court said.
It also said that in addition to better facilities being created, awareness drives need to be undertaken, particularly in the rural areas so that certain common bad practices are eradicated in due course.
During the hearing, senior lawyer S P Mahanta said that there are no facilities for conducting biopsy in the State.
However, the State government through its lawyer claimed that two units have been set up recently in Tura and in Shillong which are capable of cancer diagnosis.
The State government also referred to a project funded by the World Bank in association with the Ministry of External Affairs that could see an amount of Rs 371 crore invested in the State over a period of five years to augment the healthcare system.
However, the State government acknowledged that a lot more needs to be done to improve the healthcare system.
Meanwhile, the next hearing on the PIL will be held on July 13.
