Tura Medical College Hospital under construction: Health Minister tells Parliament
Tura: The Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Jadhav, recently informed the Lok Sabha about the various initiatives and funding aimed at strengthening healthcare facilities in Meghalaya. As per the recommendations of the Fifteenth Finance Commission, an allocation of ₹20.39 crore has been approved for the state for the period from FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26.
This funding will help establish and strengthen 32 Building-less Sub Health Centres (SHCs) and two Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in the state, focusing on rural and underserved areas.
In addition to the Fifteenth Finance Commission funds, Meghalaya has also received significant financial assistance under the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM). A total of Rs. 230.89 crore has been allocated for the five-year period from FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26 to support the construction and strengthening of 251 Building-less Sub-Health Centres (SHC-AAM), 10 Integrated Public Health Laboratories (IPHLs), and 3 Critical Care Blocks (CCBs) in the state.
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The minister was responding to the questions posed by Shri Saleng A Sangma during the recent Lok Sabha session. He asked whether there is any proposal for the construction of a medical hospital in Meghalaya, particularly in Tura and the surrounding parliamentary constituency, if so, the details of the allocated funds, including the estimated cost and timeline thereof;
He also asked about the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to improve healthcare infrastructure and medical facilities in the Tura Parliamentary constituency of Meghalaya; and
Furthermore, he asked whether there is any provision for upgrading existing healthcare facilities in Tura to meet the increasing medical needs of the population, and if so, the details thereof?
Minister of State for Health, Shri Prataprao Jadhav, informed that Health is a state subject, hence, the responsibility for improving the healthcare facilities lies with the respective State/UT Governments. Under Fifteenth Finance Commission (FC-XV) Health Grants for the State of Meghalaya, an approval of Rs. 20.39 Crore has been given over the five year period from FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26 for establishment and strengthening of 32 Building-less Sub Health Centres (SHC) and 2 Primary Health Centres (PHC) as per proposal of the State. Further, under Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), an amount of Rs 230.89 Crore has been approved for five years period i.e. FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26 for construction/strengthening of 251 Building less-Sub-Health Centres - Ayushman Arogya Mandir (SHC-AAM), 10 Integrated Public Health Laboratory (IPHL) and 3 Critical care Blocks (CCBs) as per proposal of the State. Also, under Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Package (ECRP-II), an amount of Rs. 46.94 crore was approved for the establishment of 3 Paediatric Care Units, 1 Paediatric Centre of Excellence and 1 Critical Care Block in the State of Meghalaya during 2021-22. Under National Health Mission (NHM), financial and technical support is provided to the State Governments/UTs to strengthen their health care system based on the requirement posed by the States/UTs in their Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs).
Under NHM, States/UTs (including Meghalaya) are provided the flexibility to propose initiatives in their Program Implementation Plans (PIPs) depending on their needs and gaps in public health facilities and thus strengthen the health system. These initiatives may include support for infrastructure, human resources, diagnostics, equipment, and medicines. Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) reviews and approves these proposals within the state's allocated resource envelope. As per the information provided by the State Government of Meghalaya, the construction of the Medical Teaching Hospital in the Tura Civil Hospital Complex is in progress, added the Minister.
