SHILLONG, AUG 28: Health Minister Wailadmiki Shylla on Friday told the Assembly that the state has invested close to Rs 750 crore in the health sector over the last five years, leading to a sharp improvement in infrastructure, manpower and health indicators.
Replying to concerns raised by members during Question Hour on the health sector and rising cancer cases, Shylla said patient footfall in government facilities has gone up by 46.8 percent – from 17 lakh in 2017-18 to 25 lakh in 2025-26.
He said enrolment under MHIS has increased by 60 percent, reflecting public confidence in the scheme.
Highlighting maternal and child health, the minister said the state spent over Rs 120 crore in the last four years under the mother and child programme, against Rs 110 crore from the Centre. Including MHIS, the spending touches Rs 170 crore.
He said the CM’s Safe Motherhood Scheme now offers unlimited free transport for women and children, unlike the earlier national scheme limited to delivery, with over one lakh trips made annually.
Transit homes have helped address hesitancy among women to come to facilities, as they can now bring children along, he said.
Traditional birth attendants and husbands are also being incentivised with Rs 1000 per delivery.
According to Shylla, maternal deaths have dropped by 56 percent and infant deaths by 40 percent since 2021 – the first such decline in the state’s history. Tracking of pregnant mothers is now done up to the village level through the Mother App and cashless services are being expanded under MHIS.
On infrastructure, he said Meghalaya will surpass national norms by March 2027 with 121 PHCs, 35 CHCs and 700 sub-centres, and has added over 1,000 beds. The state, he said, now has the highest number of First Referral Units.
Village councils have built over 100 sub-centres on their own and will add 150 more by March 2027, he added.
Admitting shortage of specialists as a concern, Shylla said 400 medical officers were appointed in one go through the Meghalaya Medical Services Recruitment Board, over 300 contractual nurses posted in district hospitals, and 115 doctors trained in Tamil Nadu in six-month certificate courses on maternal and child health.
Housekeeping in district hospitals has also been strengthened, he said, while village councils and faith-based organisations are being roped in for prenatal and postnatal care to push institutional deliveries above the national average.
By Our Reporter
