50 more MBBS seats in NEIGRIHMS: Union MoS health

sSHILLONG: The union government has decided to increase 50 more MBBS seats in the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) here, Union minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar said. She added that the Centre will provide all necessary support to Meghalaya for setting up its own medical colleges.

"We are going to increase 50 more seats from next year so it will then be 100 seats in NEIGRIHMS," the minister said. The union government has been focusing on strengthening the tertiary care, including primary and secondary as the prime minister's vision is to strengthen the healthcare system through central government schemes, she added.

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Pawar said the union government is providing a different budget altogether to strengthen NEIGRIHMS. "Last year, the budget was Rs 480 crore and this year, the budget is Rs 528 crore. So we are constantly increasing (the budget)," she said, lauding the achievements of the NEIGRIHMS which include the radiotherapy treatment.

Asked if the union government will support Meghalaya to have its own medical colleges, the Union Minister of State for Health said, "Government is definitely going to support and we are also strengthening NEIGRIHMS. We will also provide support for the next medical college." Also reviewing the implementation of the National Health Mission (NHM) in Meghalaya, Pawar said the central government has sanctioned approximately Rs 600 crore budget this year on a 90;10 pattern of funding.

For strengthening the sub-centres and health and wellness centres, she said that the Central government is allocating Rs 150 crore for Meghalaya under the 15th Finance budget. "... We must prepare for next pandemic. As envisioned by the PM, we must focus on preparedness and prevention and be ready for the next pandemic," she said.

She said about Rs 64,000 budget has been sanctioned under the PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission for the entire country and in Meghalaya the budget is Rs 150 crore for the next four years.