Shillong, March 23: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Thursday informed that the state government will definitely explore the possibility of setting up a full-fledged cancer hospital.
“Definitely if the need arises and based on the financial and other aspects involved, we will explore the idea of even having a full-fledged hospital if necessary,” Sangma told reporters after presenting the state budget on Thursday.
He however informed that the government is intending to expand and augment the cancer wing and its overall capacity and services.
Stating that it is not just about the treatment, the chief minister said, “It has a lot to do with screening and early detection and prevention. Therefore, Meghalaya in fact is going for a holistic approach to all of this. We are looking at doing a massive amount of screenings so that early detection can be done and lives can be saved.”
Earlier in his budget speech, Sangma said the 90-bedded cancer wing in the Shillong civil hospital was made functional this financial year.
The radio oncology system will also be set up by the end of 2023 to further augment our capacity in the fight against cancer.
He further announced that the government will also set up a cancer wing in Tura civil hospital.
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The chief minister also informed that the government is comprehensively upgrading the physical infrastructure of all the health facilities starting from the state headquarters till the sub centers.
The Mother and Child Hospital at Jowai and a 100-bedded hospital in Mawkyrwat have been established, he said while adding that the construction of 19 new health facilities is at different stages of completion.
He further added that the 100-bedded integrated health complex at Baljek, West Garo Hills will be completed by 2024 while the 50-bedded ‘Tura Maternity and Child hospital’ will be expanded to 100 beds during 2023-24.
He said that the construction of 78 new sub centers will be completed by the end of 2023 at a cost of about Rs 43 crore. Additionally, the government will also set up 31 new urban health centers during the next financial year.
Meanwhile, the government has also decided to upgrade 20 out of the existing 31 community health centers as first referral units during 2023-24.
“To further strengthen these centers, we are training groups of doctors and medical professionals,” Sangma added.
