‘’The health policy will have a mechanism to incorporate resources required to have quality and affordable health care system for the people,’’ Dr Sangma told a workshop titled ‘’Consultation on Formulating the Health Policy of Meghalaya’’ held here yesterday.
He said the health policy’s final draft would be announced by October and subsequently it would be put on the official website to allow various NGOs and the people to express their views and suggestions before the draft was finalised.
‘’Our actual target to complete the health policy was six months when it was planned early last year and that the delay is due to the time taken for detailed survey and study before making the draft policy,’’ he said.
Dr Sangma said the government also proposed to introduce Universal Health Insurance Programme to cover all sections of the people as presently, the Rashtriya Suraksha Bima Yojana covers only the BPL families.
“Adequate funds are required to ensure the substantiality of the policy and for implementation of the Universal Health Insurance Programme,’’ the Chief Minister said. The government had already discussed the matter with the Asian Development Bank (AD) for creating a corpus fund for the health insurance.
Dr Sangma also announced that the government had earmarked funds for establishment of two medical colleges at Shillong and another at Tura in West Garo Hills district of the state.
‘’There is a serious problem while diagnosing the diseases in the state and the time has come to ensure quality and accurate health services and early detection of the diseases,’’ Dr Sangma said.