SHILLONG, FEB 27: Health Minister Wailadmiki Shylla told the Assembly on Friday that payments of over Rs 11.36 crore were made under the Megha Health Insurance Scheme (MHIS) for dialysis treatment.

He said the department is “trying its level best” to strengthen services, noting that dialysis is already included under MHIS.

The reply followed VPP leader Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit’s concern over poor patients being forced to seek costly private care.

“We cannot expect poor patients to resort to private hospital,” Basaiawmoit said, urging the government to post nephrologists.

Shylla said government district hospitals charge Rs 3,000 per dialysis session, with costs covered under MHIS, while private hospitals are also empanelled.

“Medicine doctors are looking after this treatment in place of nephrologists,” he said, adding that only one nephrologist is available in the state due to limited applicants.

When Leader of Opposition Mukul Sangma pressed for wider access, Shylla said that the government “will explore possibilities” to make treatment more affordable.

On delays, he said patient loads were rising and the department was working to increase machines and technicians.

The state now has 54 dialysis machines in East Khasi Hills—12 at Shillong Civil Hospital (10 functional) and 42 in private hospitals.

Shylla announced plans to expand dialysis units to all district hospitals and eventually to CHCs.

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