Meghalaya health infrastructure all set for transformation

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SHILLONG | SEPT 08, 2020:

The Government of Meghalaya on Tuesday earmarked Rs. 75 crore for upgrading the health infrastructure in various health centres including the Community Health Centres (CHCs) and Public Health Centres (PHCs).

While addressing reporters, Health and Family Welfare Minister Alexander Laloo Hek said, "We have received a sanction of Rs 75 crore for this purpose. The amount of sanction is specifically for the upgrading of the available infrastructure, including the extension of a building or upgrading medical equipment in a health centre. No funding will be done for a new project."

Hek through a video conferencing with district health officials informed that the amount sanctioned is for the first phase and that they will implement the project for upgrading the health infrastructure in four phases.

Regarding complaints raised by patients about hospitals refusing to provide treatment, the minister said that all hospitals in the state, both government and private-run, cannot deny treatment to any patient.

"It is true that several patients have complained that there are hospitals who are refusing to admit patients without completing the COVID-19 tests. The hospital management is insisting that they would wait for COVID-19 test result before admitting the patients. This is unjustified for asking patients to wait for 24 to 48 hours before they can start treatment. There are possibilities that the health of the patients would deteriorate. The hospitals should provide treatment simultaneously," he added.

Meanwhile, the Director of Health Services (MI), Dr Aman Warr, said that the COVID-19 rapid antigen test is recognised by ICMR.

"All the tests are not 100 percent accurate. If anyone is not satisfied with the result of the rapid antigen test, then they can always reconfirm with the RTCPR test," he said.

Meanwhile, the state recorded 42 fresh COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, taking the total number of active cases to 1,343.

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