Shillong, Nov 2: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Monday said in an official social media post that the initial discussion on “Meghalaya Health Policy” has been initiated. The post also said that the policy will go a long way in strengthening healthcare infrastructure and machinery to ensure better delivery of healthcare services in the State right from the grassroot level.

“The policy will set a broad framework for providing essential public health services and functions, including powers to respond to public health emergencies, principally through the State and local public health agencies at the village, Block and District level in collaboration with other public and private healthcare providers, including through the cooperation and formal collaborations between the Center and State”, an official told Hub News.

It has been given to understand that the policy aims to provide universal healthcare to all the residents while also educating the population on their rights and the availability of various preventive health services such as vaccines.

“The idea is for the population to become informed residents with the Health Department talking a proactive role in dissemination of healthcare services in the State in collaboration with all the stakeholders,” the officer further informed.

The officer  also informed that the policy aims to foster an environment where decentralization takes centre stage. “The policy will break hierarchical barriers in healthcare administration so as to bring about a platform for open communication to discuss, deliberate and implement ideas”, the officer added.

The officer informed that the current healthcare policy which the State is practicing focuses on curative care; the new health policy will ensure that this focus equally shifts to preventive care in order to bring about a healthy and productive population.

“Meghalaya is a largely matrilineal society, persistent gender inequality and poverty are the root causes of many health concerns. The policy will aim to bring about the empowerment of women by ensuring health rights such as birth spacing and other reproductive rights,” he said.

Earlier this year, Government had announced the “Meghalaya Health System Strengthening”

(MHSS) project in collaboration with the World Bank Group which aims to infuse around 350 cr in a span of at least 5 years for the overall health sector development in the State. The Government have also announced upgradation of PHCs, CHCs and other healthcare centres across the State and have earmarked around 70 cr.

Initial discussions of the draft #Meghalaya Health Policy were held today. The Policy will go a long way in strengthening our healthcare machinery and ensure better delivery of healthcare services in the State right at the grassroot level.@drharshvardhan @MoHFW_INDIA pic.twitter.com/jPZjhVkquX

— Conrad Sangma (@SangmaConrad) November 2, 2020