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CAG pulls up Meghalaya CM for failing to convene SHM meeting

By The Assam Tribune

SHILLONG, April 1 - The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has pulled up Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma for failing to convene even a single meeting of the State Health Mission (SHM) since 2011 and has reprimanded the governemnt for not giving �adequate priority� to the health sector.

The SHM is to provide health system oversight, consider policy matters related to health sector and review progress in implementation of the Centrally-sponsored National Rural Health Mission scheme.

Lack of adequate priority has resulted in shortage of over 300 health centres in villages, besides shortfall of specialist doctors, nurses and staff, the CAG report filed in the just concluded session of the State Assembly, said. The CAG recommended to establish new primary health centres and sub-health centres as per provision of essential medical and paramedical staff in health facilities.

In its report tabled in the just concluded Assembly session for the year ending March 31, 2016, the CAG said the shortage of medical specialists was a �serious impediment� in the proper delivery of healthcare services in the state.

The report also pointed out that the state government had failed to set up district hospitals in the four newly created districts apart from over 40 per cent shortfall of sub-centres in the state.

Stating that there was a shortfall of 328 sub-centres (SC) in the State, the CAG said, �The shortage of district health centres and SCs was one of the factors responsible for shortfall in achievement of targets such as institutional deliveries, antenatal care.� It also pointed out the necessity to have more SCs in the State was also observed in the beneficiary survey as 74 per cent of the 354 women surveyed stated that they visited SCs/Anganwadi centres for their ANC services. � PTI

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