Shillong, June 27: Health Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh has decided to tour the different districts of the state to review and address the problems faced by the health centres.

“Going to the districts is the best way to find out what is not there and what is there,” Lyngdoh told reporters on Tuesday.

The minister on Monday had visited West Khasi Hills District and convened the first zonal meeting with the four MLAs from the region in the presence of medical officers (MOs), nursing staff, supervisors, DHS, DM&HO to discuss the efficiency of the health centres in the district.

“We will be preparing a report and we will be prioritizing issues,” Lyngdoh said.

She informed that the next zonal meeting will be held in the Jaintia Hills region. “I will be meeting the MLAs of Jaintia Hills. I hope to engage productively like this to first understand what is the challenge before us so we can make inroads in the correct direction and not just look at what NHM is telling us to do or looking at just what a policy coming from the Govt of India is telling us to do because so many gaps are there,” she added.

Lyngdoh will also hold zonal meetings in West Garo Hills, South Garo Hills and others.

“I have been told even in the utilization of MHIS there are some inherent issues that need to be attended to. These are the things I learnt only if I go to the districts and I am trying my best to do that,” she said.

When asked about the manpower in the health centres in West Khasi Hills District, the health minister said the MOs of various PHCs and CHCs were discussing the crucial matter of manpower.

“We are well seized of this matter and we are seeking an appointment with the chief minister where we will bring to his attention the immediate requirement for specialists, super specialists and even MBBS doctors in our systems,” she said.

Stating that 40% of areas in West Khasi Hills are very far flung and do not have motorable access, Lyngdoh said, “There was a huge requirement to supply ambulances to these regions. This is the kind of information you receive when you go on the ground. I am very happy we went because at least we will be able to take up at least five agendas for the West Khasi Hills which we can consider and overcome in the next five years.”

Further, the minister also informed that she would also take up the issue related to the supply of medicines with the chief minister.

“Because we need to figure out quickly how to ensure indented medicines from the districts are going to reach the districts ASAP. In the meanwhile because this new authority that has been put in place is not fully functional yet so immediately some amount of funds has already been released to districts to ensure that essential medicines at least are not compromised. I have in fact brought a list of medicines which need immediately to be attended to…,” she said.

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