Health Minister AL Hek inaugurated Pynthorbah Health & Wellness Centre

A REPORTER

SHILLONG: Meghalaya Minister for Health and Family Welfare AL Hek inaugurated the newly upgraded Pynthorbah Health and Wellness Centre here on Monday. The Pynthorbah Urban Public Health Centre is the first among the Urban Public Health Centres (UPHCs) in East Khasi Hills district to be upgraded to a Health and Wellness Centre.

This exercise of upgrading PHCs & Sub Centers to Health & Wellness Center by the State is presently being done in a phased manner with the aim to upgrade the maximum facilities as Health and Wellness Centers by 2022.

The Minister, in his speech, said that the Health and Wellness Centre is one of the components of the ‘Ayushman Bharat’ or ‘Healthy India’ programme that covers prevention promotion and ambulatory care at the primary level. These facilities can provide comprehensive treatment and services ensuring the maximum health benefit to every citizen.

The Minister also said that the Health department’s mission is to ensure that each individual can avail of the benefits of the Health schemes of the Central and State governments.

With Health being a core issue of concern for the government, implementation of the ‘Meghalaya Health Insurance Scheme’ (MHIS) is a testimony to the government’s commitment to ensure health for its citizens, the Minister said.

He added that with the implementation of the ‘Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana’ (PM-JAY) with MHIS in Meghalaya as a universal Health insurance scheme, its success and affordability rests substantially on the effectiveness of the provisions of the Comprehensive Primary Health Care through the Health and Wellness Centers.

He urged the Doctors, Nurses, ASHA and Anganwadi workers to work with dedication to ensure that this programme achieves its purpose.

He also called upon the Rangbah Shnongs, Seng Longkmie and Seng Samla to shoulder the responsibility to carry the message to every nook and corner of the area and to cooperate with health workers in implementing this scheme.

The Joint Director of Health Services (MCH & FW)-cum-Nodal Officer, NPCDCS and HWC, Meghalaya, Dr M Marbaniang said that the State has implemented the Comprehensive Primary Health Care Programme in five districts of the State, namely East Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills, West Garo Hills, West Jaintia Hills and Ri Bhoi districts with the objective of upgrading the existing PHCs and Sub Centers to the level of Health and Wellness Centers to provide comprehensive primary health care to the community.

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