Meghalaya now allocates eight per cent of its total state budget to the highest in the country, an official statement said today. Since 2010, the state’s health budget has grown nearly sixfold, from Rs 300 crore to Rs 1,700 crore in 2023. Major investments have been made across Primary and Community Health Centres, sub-centres, and district hospitals-covering infrastructure, medical equipment, IT systems, storage, logistics, and real-time monitoring of supplies,” the statement highlighted on occasion of the first Meghalaya Health Summit 2025 organized by the state department of health & family welfare, in collaboration with the National Health Mission, at the State Convention Centre here, which was chaired by CM Conrad K. Sangma, and attended by senior officials, public health experts, and private healthcare stakeholders. During the summit, the CM distributed appointment letters to over 200 newly recruited nurses under the Meghalaya Medical Services Recruitment Board (MMSRB) and 115 staff under the National AYUSH Mission (NAM).
Congratulating the recruits, the CM said, “This is more than just a job-it’s a calling. Approach every patient with empathy; your compassion can transform lives”. The CM also launched the Meghalaya State Antibiotic Policy 2025-2026. The CM mentioned that in 2018, facing a shortage of doctors, the government recruited 500 doctors in just three months post-cabinet approval. “Our aim is clear, residents should need to go outside Meghalaya for treatment. We’re working to make our healthcare system a regional and international hub, while also inviting private sector partnerships to strengthen rural services,” he said.
Health Minister Mazel Ampareen Lyngdoh urged recruits to serve where they’re most needed and called on more youth to pursue nursing. Principal Secretary, Health Department, Sampath Kumar noted Meghalaya’s pioneering status in both health investment and universal health coverage through the Meghalaya Health Insurance Scheme (MHIS). The summit also featured a technical session and roundtable discussion with private hospitals, led by the CM, to explore stronger public-private collaboration for improving the quality of healthcare services across the state. A key highlight was the discussion on the Meghalaya Cancer Action Program, during which the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in enhancing early detection of breast cancer and improving patient outcomes was highlighted.
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