Meghalaya Chief Minister, Conrad Sangma had stated that the budget allocation for the health sector was placed at 9 per cent, which stands as the highest in the country.
However the healthcare system in Meghalaya like in the country is skewed towards curative healthcare.
Preventive healthcare receives less government funding, which leads to long-term inefficiencies and escalating healthcare costs.
In this year’s budget, the state government should allocate funds to preventive healthcare, including awareness campaigns among people on prevalent health issues such as cancer, anaemia and lifestyle diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular conditions, health screenings, and wellness programmes.
Our expectations from the government are to prioritize policies that not only unlock the immense potential of the healthcare industry but also ensure long-term sustainability, inclusivity, and global recognition.
By fostering an environment of growth and innovation, the healthcare sector can significantly contribute to the nation’s economic and social progress.
It may be mentioned that for the 2024-25 fiscal year, Meghalaya allocated 7.7 percent of its total expenditure to health. This is higher than the average state allocation of 6.2 percent.
In Meghalaya’s budget for the year 2024-25, a comprehensive three-year mission was announced to revamp all health facilities in the state. An investment of Rs 500 crore has been allocated towards this.
The Health and Family Welfare department claimed that it achieved a 53 percent reduction in maternal deaths and a 38 percent reduction in infant deaths between 2020 and 2024.
The department also stated that Results-Based Financing (RBF) was implemented across 69 PHCs, 20 CHCs, and other facilities, with Rs. 50 crore disbursed to enhance healthcare delivery.
Additionally, 11 CHCs were upgraded to First Referral Units (FRUs), and ultrasound services were expanded to 60 health facilities across the state.
The government should be concerned over the high prevalence of cancer cases in Meghalaya.
The government should ramp up its infrastructure to detect it at an early stage.
One good news is that the state government is trying to procure advanced medical equipment, including a high-energy LINAC (linear accelerator) for cancer treatment and strengthening cancer care infrastructure in Meghalaya.
Another area the government should look to address is the scarcity of medical specialists.
In the context of the northeastern states, specifically Meghalaya, a study published in 2014 reported that all the northeastern states are suffering from severe shortage of specialist doctors and radiographers in CHCs.
So, to address the challenges faced by the state in terms of specialists as well as by the latter themselves, the “Study to understand operational & policy barriers amongst specialist doctors in Meghalaya” was initiated to generate qualitative evidence to affect positive policy reformation and bring about a comprehensive specialist cadre policy.
During secondary review, it was ascertained that there are 320 specialist posts in the state which are sanctioned, and 33 specialists hold positions for specialties without sanctioned posts. Of the sanctioned posts, only 148 positions are filled, and 172 vacant positions exist.
