Shillong, July 9 (IANS) Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Thursday directed officials to expedite all ongoing and proposed infrastructure works at Baghmara Civil Hospital in South Garo Hills, stressing that the projects must be completed on priority to ensure reliable and quality healthcare for people in the district.

Reviewing the progress of the hospital’s upgradation along with senior Health and Family Welfare Department officials, Chief Minister Sangma said every component of the project should be closely monitored and completed without delay.

He also instructed the department to accelerate the recruitment of specialist doctors and strengthen the hospital’s nursing and paramedical workforce to improve healthcare delivery.

During the review, government officials told the Chief Minister that the operation theatre, which became functional in 2025, has already conducted 85 surgeries, including 42 Caesarean sections.

The hospital treated 20,108 outpatients and admitted 2,334 inpatients in 2025, while another 10,143 outpatients were served during the first six months of 2026, indicating a steady rise in patient footfall.

The hospital currently provides emergency obstetric care and Caesarean services and also operates a transit home for expectant mothers before delivery.

Officials said four major infrastructure projects worth about Rs 11.37 crore are under implementation or tendering.

These include renovation of the old Community Health Centre building, construction of an overhead water tank, renovation of 25 residential quarters for medical personnel and the proposed Phase-II expansion to develop a 70-bedded hospital.

The Chief Minister also reviewed plans for several new healthcare facilities, including a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), a blood bank, expansion of the transit home for pregnant women, and an integrated 50-bedded Mother and Child Health wing with support under the Centre’s public health infrastructure programme.

Chief Minister Sangma further reviewed the proposal to upgrade the Chokpot Community Health Centre into a First Referral Unit equipped with comprehensive emergency obstetric and newborn care, a blood storage unit, a newborn stabilisation unit and round-the-clock referral services.

He reiterated that the ongoing investments must translate into accessible, dependable and high-quality healthcare services for the people of South Garo Hills.

–IANS

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