CM stresses on the need to upgrade skills of healthcare providers

SHILLONG, JULY 25: Chief Minster Conrad Sangma emphasised on the need to provide training programs to upgrade skills of healthcare providers in the State.

Speaking on the occasion of the convocation ceremony organised by the Meghalaya Diabetes Association for doctors that have completed various capacity building training programs under the guidance of Public Health Foundation of India in the city on Tuesday, the Chief Minister said that there is huge need for improvement in the health sector and urged all doctors to be committed to their work.

“The service that the doctors are providing is invaluable and I would like to urge each one of you to work even harder. No matter how educated or how experienced we might be in our field there is always room for improvement”, the Chief Minister said.

The Chief Minister also informed the gathering that the Government of India has initiated programs to upgrade Health Sub Centres to Community Health and Wellness Centres wherein the Nurses working in these establishments will be given necessary skill upgradation to take up the responsibility of delivering services in the absence of doctors.

Stating the need to adopt necessary changes to make government programs and policies more effective the Chief Minister said that the government has signed a MoU to merge the Megha Health Insurance Scheme and the centrally sponsored Ayushman Bharat Yojana Scheme to provide health insurance cover upto Rs. 5 lakh from the existing 2.8 lakhs under the MHIS.

Speaking with concern about food adulteration and the safety of consumers the chief minister assured everyone that necessary steps have been put in place by the government to check and monitor such safety issues.

“I have instructed the health department to inspect all kinds of different food products that are coming in to the state and not just fish. I can assure you that as a government the health of our people is of utmost importance to us and we as a State can never compromise on that.” The Chief Minister added.

The Chief Minister also informed the gathering that in order to improve the delivery mechanism of schemes the government has initiated a program to connect and interact with the Deputy Commissioners of all the districts through video conference systems, at regular intervals.