Govt addressing ambiguity in permanent residency certificates

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Sept 22: Minister-in-charge of Health and Family Welfare Ampareen Lyngdoh on Friday said the department has sought clarity from the home (political) as well as law department on the decision of some districts to issue provisional permanent residency certificates to the open category MBBS students.

Tabling a statement relating to the call attention notice of North Shillong MLA Adelbert Nongrum, Lyngdoh said, “In light of the ambiguity on the part of the district administration on the issue of permanent residency certificate, since some districts is used provisional PRC to the open category students earlier, it was decided to refer the matter to home (political) as well as law department seeking clarity on the matter.”

She said verification of 2 more candidates is awaited.

Meghalaya was initially allotted 92 seats in the current academic year and two additional seats under the central pool.

Of these 52 seats are from the central pool, 13 from RIMS Imphal, 14 from NEIGRIHMS Shillong, 3 from Tripura and 10 from Assam.

Lyngdoh said as per the residency status claimed by the candidates, respective deputy commissioners were asked to ascertain about their permanent residency status.

Reports were received from respective DCs. Based on teh DC’s report and the documents submitted, results of MBBS seat allocation were announced on August 31, 2023 and subsequently upon receipt of two additional seats under the central pool, the seat allocation was revised on September 4, 2023.

She said following representations by some civil societies, the Health & Family Welfare Department issued a notification dated September 6, 2023, staying the seating allocation of the following open category students pending re-verification of their residency status as per home (political) OM Dated June 10, 1983.

The eight open-category students include Mehbub Hassan, Monimul Ekram Mondall, Mahmudul Islam, Atida Zaman, Chiranjit Kumar Paul, Angoor Zaman Hoque, Abul Kala, Golam Mahdi Alom and Ayush Kumar.

As on September 21, the re-verification of permanent residency status for six students has been received. These include Mehbub Hassan, Md Mahmadur Islam, Atifa Zaman, Chiranjit Kumar and Angoor Zaman Hoque have presented PRC for higher education and training issued by SDO Dadenggre sub-division West Garo Hills and Ayush Kumar presented PRC issued by DC of East Jaintia Hills.

1,375 cancer patients treated under MHIS in 8 months

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Sept 19: Minister-in-charge of Health & Family Welfare Ampareen Lyngdoh today said over 1,375 cancer patients have been treated under the Megha Health Insurance Scheme (MHIS) for the period of January-August 2023.

Of this, 528 are females and 847 are males, she said.

Replying to a short-duration discussion in the Assembly, Lyngdoh said MHIS Phase 6 – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) started on September 1, 2022.

Transition to the scheme’s next phase was made without any breaks and disruption, which allows beneficiaries to continue availing services under the scheme.

“Despite the change of Phase 5 to Phase 6, registered beneficiaries/households will not be required to register themselves again, therefore relieving the public from renewal of cards from one phase to the next. Such improvements in the scheme’s implementation are what contribute to the success of the scheme,” she said.

She informed that Reliance General Insurance Company Limited is the current insurance company identified for implementing the scheme in Meghalaya for MHIS 6 selected through a rigorous and competitive bidding process.

Highlighting some of the key features of MHIS 6 – PMJAY, Lyngdoh said there is an increased insurance cover of ₹ 5,30,000 per family per year, inclusive of ₹ 30,000 OPD cover, no limits on the family size and the scheme continues to cover pre-existing diseases.

She said the number of Health Benefits Packages is 2253 packages and 2665 procedures which include OPD/Day-care, OPD diagnostics, medical treatments, surgical procedures, and high-end drugs packages.  Existing PMJAY-MHIS Card holders will not need to register themselves, however eligible unregistered beneficiaries can undertake the registration process at designated centres. Beneficiaries can utilise the benefits at any empanelled hospital across the country.

Stating that several improvements have been further envisioned by the Government during this phase, Lyngdoh said the new financial guidelines have been introduced, to enable public hospitals to manage their insurance-generated funds more efficiently to upgrade or improve their existing services and to effectively incentivize their staff based on performance.

“With the new guidelines, public hospitals will contribute a percentage of their earnings to a State Corpus Fund, which can be utilized for treating BPL and deprived beneficiaries of the state for selected high-end tertiary care, like open heart surgeries, liver and organ transplant, and treatment for rare diseases in hospitals, either inside or outside the state of Meghalaya.”

Further, the minister informed that the State Corpus Fund is an initiative to provide additional benefits to BPL/Deprived beneficiaries, over and above the existing insurance cover.

On the medical benefits to government employees, Lyngdoh said the government has adopted Meghalaya Medical Attendance Rules (MMA) 2021 under the Department of health and Family Welfare, providing government employees with a reimbursement-based system for availing medical treatment.

The state currently has approximately 68,280 in-service employees and approximately 24,044 pensioners and all-India service employees.

Overall, approximately 4,42,155 members are getting medical reimbursements from different departments based on MMA rules 2021.

Presently, the government of Meghalaya employees do not have cashless coverage for their medical services, despite the state of Meghalaya having universal health coverage for all citizens.

Sponsored medical students, doctors still avoiding service in state

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Sept 19: Over 443 medical students and doctors sponsored by the State government have failed to join the state health services.

This was informed by the Minister in charge of Health & Family Welfare Ampareen Lyngdoh while replying to a starred question tabled in the Assembly today.

She said the reasons that the sponsored medical students and doctors by the government have not joined the state health services are: “pursuing of post-graduate studies directly after completion of MBBS studies, students who have completed compulsory internship are required to serve compulsory bond in their respective place/state of study and student pursuing senior resident doctor (SRD).”

Lyngdoh informed that the total number of medical students belonging to the unreserved or general category who have been sponsored by the government to pursue medical studies till date is 237 (batch 1995-96 to 2023-24)

Out of this, only 12 (from the batch 1995-96 to 2017-18) have joined the state health services while 147 have refused to join, she added.

On the steps taken by the government to ensure sponsored doctors do serve the state, Lyngdoh said the government is executing a bond agreement and notices have been served to the MBBS students who have not reported/not joined with effect from 1995-1996 to 2012-2013.

Meanwhile, the minister informed that around 400 doctors have been recruited by the Meghalaya Medical Services Recruitment Board (MMSRB) in its first recruitment drive.

“In the second round around 50 specialists and 70 medical officers will be recruited,” she said.

She said that the total number of medical students sponsored by the government in different medical colleges of the country is 1,650 (batch 1995-96 to 2023-24).

Of these, only 948 have joined the state health services, she added.

COVID claims another life in West Garo Hills

A 46-year-old man, who was tested Covid-19 positive died in West Garo Hills District on Friday.

This was informed by Health Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh after reviewing the Covid scenario in the state.

“A death has occurred in West Garo Hills. He (the deceased patient) came very late to the hospital,” Lyngdoh told reporters.

She however said, “Whether or not this one case was a case of death due to Covid directly or was it because of some other comorbidity status of the patient will be ascertain at the earliest.”

The minister also requested people to reach out to the nearest facility if they feel that their symptoms are way beyond their redressal as early detection and redressal of the problem is very important.

As of today, the death toll due to Covid in Meghalaya is over 1626.

Lyngdoh also informed that the death audit committee is already in place and said, “We will ensure that we will send all details to the audit committee to ensure whether or not it was a direct Covid related death.”

Stating that the government do not want to panic the public, the minister however said in the event of this one case, the government would like to take all necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the disease.

As on Friday, the state has a total of 17 active Covid cases of which 10 are in West Garo Hills, 5 in East Khasi Hills and 2 in West Jaintia Hills.

Also stating that Covid cases are well under control, Lyngdoh said that there has been no sign that this would take a pandemic situation again adding that “we feel that this is not going to happen but nevertheless one death has occurred, we thought that we should share this with you.”

She further announced that the health department has requested for immediate implementation of all precautionary measures and said, “We request the public at large to kindly adhere to Covid practices so that we may be able to contain the situation and ensure that it does not become a problem. Please wear masks in crowded places, cough with etiquette, wash your hands, use sanitisers.

People with symptoms like cough, fever, sore throat, loss of taste, smell, breathlessness or other respiratory symptoms should immediately reach out to the first testing centres. Testing centres are made available at all block levels, all tertiary care centres will have all these facilities.”

The minister also assured that the state is in a prepared stage to tackle the Covid situation in the state and said people coming from areas with high positivity rate are requested to take personal precautionary measures which include self-isolation.

With regards to the availability of vaccines in Meghalaya, Lyngdoh informed that a meeting will be chaired by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday next, to take a call on the matter.

“Now, the policy on vaccines will be again taken up on Monday when the chief minister will also be available to advise us accordingly, we will then give further information as to what will be the stand of this government on the vaccines,” she said while informing that the Government of India had already indicated it is not going to provide any vaccines and that vaccines or ‘the third dose or booster dose’ will have to be procured by the state.

The minister said, “Covid vaccine is a voluntary decision taken by the citizens. We cannot push or force doses on citizens until and unless they so wish to. So we leave it to the public to decide that is why we are yet to take a call as to what will be the formula that the government would propose. We will be sitting with the chief minister on Monday and we will have a better detail for you at that point of time.”

She however maintained that the covid vaccine has never been made compulsory for the public and that it is purely voluntary on the part of the citizens.

If the government will impose some restrictions on inter-district movement, the minister said, “I don’t want to jump the gun and presume that this situation will completely get out of hand. We will not take any immediate decision but appropriate precautionary measures have been advised to all citizens across the board.”

Meanwhile, the minister also informed that there has been no new variant detected in the cases registered in the state.

“Everything remains the same. Covid is Covid. The variant also remains the same variant, there has been no identification of a new variant or a new type of Covid that will require additional protocol,” she added.

According to her, only few patients out of 17 are being hospitalized and kept in the isolation ward but nobody is being admitted in the ICU.

JHADC told to work with JMB on garbage management

The Meghalaya High Court has asked the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) to act in conjunction with the municipality to ease the citizens’ woes in regard to the garbage collection in Jowai town.

“In the meantime, the Jaintia District Council should act in conjunction with the Municipality to ease the citizens’ woes,” the division bench said in its order passed after hearing a PIL filed by the Synjuk Ki Waheh Shnong Jowai.

An affidavit has been filed by the Jowai Municipality pursuant to the order dated April 17, 2023.

The petitioner flagged several issues and said that all is not well in the matter of collection of garbage in the town of Jowai.

The petitioner’s affidavit in such regard should be filed within a week from date, the bench said while adding that the matter will appear 10 days hence.

The next hearing on the matter will be held on May 12.

Meghalaya’s aspiring nurses may soon have to learn foreign languages

There is a huge surplus of nurses in Meghalaya even as the government is contemplating making learning of foreign languages compulsory for nurses keeping in mind there is a big requirement of nursing care in foreign countries.

Informing this after reviewing the human resource (HR) status in the health sector here today, Health Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh told reporters that there is a huge surplus of nurses in the state of Meghalaya as there are more nurses against the numbers of jobs that are available.

“Because of this engagement as an entire department going from previous advertisements that were called so we are now of this opinion that we need to look for avenues for these nurses where do you direct these trained individuals or what do they do next with their lives,” Lyngdoh said.

“So the government is going to be engaging with institutions engaging with various agencies that can help us bring gainful employment to these nurses as there are more nurses in the market than what government intake can do,” she added.

Asserting the need to ensure that nurses are compulsorily given an opportunity or made to learn languages or language skill, the health minister said, “For example, we are aware that several foreign countries require nursing care which is not available in their own countries whereas if our nurses who are already very hospitable in nature, very kind in nature, if they can have a language skill opportunity to pick up a language in any European country maybe if they could learn French, if they could learn Japanese (as) I am told very recently that there is big requirement for nursing care, nursing aid in these foreign countries. So we now need to look at this huge unemployment even in this one category alone.”

Referring to the national norms, Lyngdoh said that the state does not have as many sanctioned posts which is about 1500 plus adding that “we are going to be looking at a probable move to ensure that the sanction number of such posts at least as per national norms are already made available.”

“As every time you have to inaugurate a PHC or a CHC that has already been built and when you suddenly come against this hard wall which says there is no sanctioned post. So we must have all of this put in mind because as we move along in the next five years there has been a huge focus kept on funding for improvement of health services post Covid. Now, we must make sure that once these infrastructures start seeing the light of day, they have the necessary manpower that is there,” sha added.

Stating that HR management is very important in the health sector, Lyngdoh said, “I think this is one way we can start seeing a health system which is functioning. We are working on it and today’s meeting is a meeting where we were able to review all of this so that we can perform better.”

She further informed that a dashboard will be created in this regard to better manage the HR in the health sector.

Meanwhile, the health minister informed that there is also a huge number of specialist doctors to be filled up in the state. “I think we are at 177 and the national standard is about 300 plus,” she said.

She also informed that another 50 -60 plus doctors are already going for these specialized courses and said, “Also the new recruit a lot of them at the time of recruitment at that time only they qualified they have also gone for those specialization so this is a very good thing as if you look 10 years down the line I think we will be a better system as compared for last 10 years and this evaluation of ourselves and our system is very important.”

Meghalaya among 27 states to get new nursing colleges

Meghalaya will be one of the 27 states selected for the establishment of new nursing colleges.

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In a significant move towards strengthening nursing workforce in the country, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the establishment of 157 new nursing colleges in co-location with the existing medical colleges established since 2014.

One of the 157 new nursing colleges will be established in Meghalaya.

The step will add approximately 15,700 nursing graduates every year.

This will further ensure quality, affordable, and equitable nursing education in India, particularly in underserved districts and States/Union Territories.  The total financial implication will be Rs 1,570 crore.

The initiative aims to address the geographical and rural-urban imbalances in the healthcare sector, which have led to the skewed availability of nursing professionals and impacted healthcare services in underserved areas. The establishment of these nursing colleges will provide a significant boost to the availability of qualified human resources in healthcare.

This is also being done as a part of the national mandate for Universal Health Care (UHC) and will help in attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Reforms in regulatory structure for Nursing education to meet with the emerging requirements in the sector are also under consideration.

National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) also collaborates with leading International & National agencies for skill development and placement of qualified nurses for overseas positions.

Co-location of these nursing colleges with existing medical colleges will allow optimal utilization of the existing infrastructure, skill labs, clinical facilities, and faculty.

This initiative is expected to provide better clinical exposure to nursing students and will also result in better care and service provision for patients in medical colleges. Use of green technologies will also be explored in these Nursing colleges and will be adopted as per relevancy to ensure energy efficiency and reduction in carbon footprint.

The Government plans to complete the project within next two years and has laid out detailed timelines for every stage of planning as well as execution of the project.

The Empowered Committee headed by the Union Health Secretary in the Centre and Principal Secretary, Health or Medical Education in the States will monitor the progress of the work.

The State Government/UTs will intimate to MoHFW on regular basis, the physical progress of the works being done for the establishment of new nursing colleges under the scheme.

There has been a tremendous focus of this government to ensure quality healthcare workforce with a substantial increase in their numbers. The Government has increased number of medical colleges and subsequently increased MBBS seats in last few years. There is a substantial increase of around 71 per cent in Medical Colleges from 387 before 2014 to 660 as of now.

Further, the number of MBBS seats has almost doubled and Post Graduate seats have more than doubled since 2013-14.

The services of Indian Nurses are considerably recognized in foreign countries, so it is important to bring Indian nursing education at par with global standards in order to facilitate their mobility and better employment opportunities. They are recognized as highly skilled professionals and drive the healthcare delivery system, but their numerical strength is below global norms and needs to be adequately enhanced.

KSU urges Ampareen to ensure upgrade of health facilities in SWKH

The Khasi Student Union (KSU) South West Khasi Hills District met the minister in charge of health department Ampareen Lyngdoh to follow up with regard to the up-gradation of various health centres in the district including the 100 bedded CHC in Mawkyrwat.

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Speaking to media persons, president of the KSU SWKHD Forwardman Nongrem claim that the health centres in South West Khasi Hills and Mawsynram C&RD Block of East Khasi Hills District still lack behind hence the union has asked the minister in charge to look into the matter for the benefits of the people of these two regions.

Nongrem informed that when it comes to the 100 bedded CHC in Mawkyrwat, though the CHC was open in December 2022 yet the health centre still lacks basic health services like radiology, surgeons, Intensive Care Unit, Operation Theater Department and ambulances for the patients.

He added that the 100 bedded CHC in Mawkyrwat still lacks manpower which includes in Grade IV, manpower in the Outpatient Department, Staff Nurses and Assistant, security, and other non-medical staff.

The KSU president also informed that the union has asked the minister in charge of health to set up the office of the District Medical and Health Officer (DMHO) in South West Khasi Hills in order to look into providing health services to the people.

“It has been more than ten years for the South West Khasi Hills District to be recognized as one of the districts in Meghalaya yet till date the district has not had DMHO headquarter to facilitate the doctors and nurses in the region” said Nongrem.

He added that the KSU has urged the minister in charge of health to set up a new Health Sub Centre in Mawhiang, Mawthong and Jyllep village and also to upgrade the Dangar PHC to CHC in order to provide quality health services to the people residing in those areas.

“The meeting with the minister in charge of health was successful as we were informed that the minister will look into all these demands and will get back to the union after two weeks after discussing with the department” he added.

On the other hand, the KSU also urged the minister in charge to provide basic requirements at Wahkaji and Mawsynram CHC like Pharmacist and Ambulances” he added.

Construction of Tura Medical College in progress

Health Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh has informed that the work for the construction of the Tura medical college is progressing.

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“We have about 45 per cent of physical progress. There are some problems (and) we are engaging with other nearby hospitals to ensure that we reach the mark of 450 beds as recommended by the MCI,” Lyngdoh told reporters.

She said that there were also certain problems with the availability of funds but that also has been sorted out.

The minister also announced that she will be visiting the construction site very shortly and said, “I am waiting for the model code of conduct to be completed quickly so I can begin to go on the ground to understand better but the Tura Medical College is progressing.

On the proposal to set up the Shillong medical college, Lyngdoh said that the government is yet to formulate a finalized approach and the matter has still to be taken to the cabinet adding that “but internal engagements are on”.

“We still require proper cabinet note to be sent proper projections to be made but yes Shillong medical college will probably change from the old proposal,” she said while adding that “We may have a PPP proposal as proposed earlier but not necessarily in Shillong but somewhere in this part of the state but all of this is being prepared now and it would be incorrect for me to divulge too much on that but one message which can go very clearly is that we are a concern and we are on the job and we will come up with a  proposal and a plan at the earliest.”

When asked, Lyngdoh said, “We want these institutions to be materialized within the timeline that was specified. I know that yes we were told to institute one and it has been done in the Garo region yes we have to institute something in the Khasi region or the Ri Bhoi region as well that is we are on the job and on the pipeline but we cannot spell it out with full authority as we are still at a discussion level and we still looking at what is the best way forward.”

Roster system: Ampareen assures justice to every community

Spokesperson of Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government Ampareen Lyngdoh has assured that the government will come up with the best solution to ensure there is no ‘injustice’ done to any community while implementing the roster system in the state.

“We will come out with the best solution and we will ensure that solution is manifested in credible information,” Lyngdoh told reporters today.

“I appeal to the people of Meghalaya and political parties across the board to kindly allow us to collect data, to ensure data collected is credible and to ensure that in applying this roster there shall be no injustice done to any one community. We are Meghalayans and we must understand that the government is for the people of Meghalaya,” she added.

Also referring to the ongoing debates on the issue, the cabinet minister said, “I appeal to political parties to be confident that the government is taking all advisories, suggestions, being debated and we will evaluate those suggestions and we will incorporate and come out with a roster which is going to be acceptable, which is going to be justified and which is going to have credible source of data.”

Stating it is a very difficult situation, she said, “We are trying our best now to ensure that while debating and discussing this matter, we should not be seen as taking anyone’s side, we will try our best to present to the people the best solution.”

On the other hand, Lyngdoh also asserted the need for citizens of the state to ensure that a practice that was propagated since the inception of the state with its positives and negatives should not be discussed beyond logical debate while citing that reservation policy is a very unique application.

According to her, the government is also aware that the roster does in all likelihood create some sort of a sense of insecurity amongst communities that are enjoying this reservation in the state of Meghalaya.

Urging the people of the state not to underestimate the capacity of the government to evaluate what practice will benefit the state in the long run, the spokesperson said, “We have been actively engaging on understanding the roster as it was and how best can we take that forward protecting the interest of all communities who will gradually and definitely be affected by it.”

“I want to give an assurance to the people of the state that the government is engaging actively. We have been advised by various court orders to ensure that we have a systematic application of the reservation policy that will seem like a policy that is sensitive to citizens across the board. We will try our best to understand this system and to ensure that while applying it we should not seem as a government that is unjustly applying a system,” she said while adding “This order of the High Court is going to have positive application in the future. We must as a state adhere to justice for all. We must provide a fair playing ground for all communities and we will try our best to ensure that in its future application we apply the system in the best and most justified manner. We are procuring all datas from all line departments to understand how the roster has been applied in the state thus far and we will adhere to advisories that are going to be productive in the long run for the state and the citizens of Meghalaya.”

On the demand of the Voice of the People Party (VPP) to review the state reservation policy, Lyngdoh said, “Again, I want to reiterate that toying with discussion and debate about the roster on public domain coming out with statements which can seem as bias is the incorrect practice forward.”

“It is not fair to give suggestions that may not be workable or doable. So we will not talk about any one political party but we appeal to all political parties that this is a very sensitive issue, we do not want to see it go out of hand,” she said while requesting all civil societies and NGO members to have faith in the government which will come out with the best solution.