CM orders fast-track upgrade of Baghmara Civil Hospital, pushes specialist recruitment

Shillong, July 9: Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Thursday directed officials to expedite the upgrade of Baghmara Civil Hospital, with a focus on improving specialist healthcare, maternal and child services, and critical care facilities in South Garo Hills.

Reviewing the hospital’s progress with senior Health Department officials, Sangma instructed that all ongoing and proposed works be completed on priority and monitored closely to ensure timely delivery.

Today, I reviewed the progress of works at the Baghmara Civil Hospital in South Garo Hills, along with Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Dr. Sampath Kumar, the Deputy Commissioner and our health officials.

Baghmara Civil Hospital is being strengthened into a dependable centre… pic.twitter.com/lHH29EQaCx

— Conrad K Sangma (@SangmaConrad) July 9, 2026

The review revealed that Rs 11.37 crore has been sanctioned for four major infrastructure projects, including renovation of the hospital, staff quarters, an overhead water tank and the proposed Phase-II expansion into a 70-bed hospital. The renovation of the old Community Health Centre building, which now houses the outpatient department, has reached 85 per cent completion, while construction of the overhead water tank is 70 per cent complete.

The Chief Minister also reviewed plans to establish a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), a blood bank, an integrated 50-bed Mother and Child Health wing, and an expanded birth waiting home to improve maternal and newborn healthcare in the district.

To address the shortage of specialist doctors, Sangma directed officials to expedite recruitment. The District Health Society has already advertised posts for a gynaecologist and a paediatrician, while steps are underway to strengthen nursing and paramedical services.

The review also covered the proposed upgrade of Chokpot Community Health Centre into a First Referral Unit, with facilities for comprehensive emergency obstetric and newborn care, a blood storage unit, a newborn stabilisation unit and round-the-clock referral services.

The hospital has witnessed growing demand since its operation theatre became functional in 2025. It has performed 85 surgeries, including 42 Caesarean sections, while serving 20,108 outpatients and admitting 2,334 inpatients last year. In the first six months of 2026 alone, it recorded 10,143 outpatient visits.

Sangma stressed that the infrastructure expansion must translate into reliable, quality healthcare for the people of South Garo Hills and directed the Health Department to regularly review progress on all projects.

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