Tura, March 25: Poor infrastructure and lack of specialists in healthcare centres across Garo hills is an ugly reality that puts a challenge for the government to enhance healthcare services in the state.

The five districts of Garo hills have facilities like civil hospitals, community health centres (CHCs), primary health centres (PHCs) and sub-centres. However, most of these centres have neither specialist doctors nor required technical infrastructure, adequate manpower or professionals.

The most established government-run hospital is Tura civil hospital in the West Garo Hills, which has specialists in orthopaedic, surgery, medicine, eye, ENT, gynaecology, anaesthesia and paediatrician. This hospital caters to the needs of patients from different parts of Garo hills, referred from Williamnagar civil hospital, Baghmara civil hospital, CHCs, and PHCs.

Baghmara civil hospital, established in 2010, does not have a single specialist doctor. It also lacks in basic facilities like X-ray, ECG and ultrasonography. Not a single hospital in Garo hills has a CT-scan machine.

In 2006, a CT-scan machine was installed at Tura civil hospital, which has remained non-functional till date.

Most patients from the rural areas face major problems in terms of availability of medicine. Though government records show adequate stocks of medicine, the drugs are dispatched to Garo hills when they are on the verge of expiry.

In most PHCs and CHCs, there is lack of rooms and water supply. Most of the buildings have become old and some even in a complete shambles.

At least 15 CHCs have no specialists. Most of the PHCs function with a single MBBS doctor and an AYUSH doctor. In CHCs, there are five doctors to cater to the needs of the patients, apart from nurses and paramedics.

Doctors too face a problem of accommodation on the campus all across Garo hills.

South Garo Hills has no medical superintendent or district medical and health officer (DM&HO).

An official report indicates that there is a shortage of over 3,600 nurses and nearly 300 specialist doctors in the government-run healthcare centres across Meghalaya, of which the posts for specialist doctors are lying vacant in Garo hills.

Ampati, a district created in 2012, has come up with a civil hospital, which is set for inauguration. There is a fear that this hospital will also not be able to induct specialist doctors.

Most local medical students, who complete their undergraduate and post-graduate courses, opt to work outside the state, as the government salary package does not seem attractive, not to mention the poor facilities.

A doctor, working in a remote healthcare centre, said, "The medical supplies are never enough, given the number of patients. Other requirements like gloves, IV sets, sutures are also in short supply."

He suggested that doctors should be taken into confidence before the supplies are made to the PHCs, CHCs, so that necessary medicines and peripherals can be made available, instead of supplying what the higher-up in the administration decides.

The MBBS doctor said in the absence of a specialist doctor in the health centre they have to act as surgeon, obstetrician and paediatrician.

Another doctor said upgraded facilities in labs and hospital infrastructure would be a great help for the doctors, who are willing to work in the remote areas of Garo hills.

Recently, Meghalaya Assembly Speaker Abu Taheer Mondal directed the health department to take corrective steps to ensure that people do not suffer because of shortage of professionals.

Health minister A.L. Hek, when asked on the shortcomings on the floor of the Assembly, admitted that there was a need to induct nurses, specialist doctors, medical officers, health workers and paramedics.

When pointed out the lapses in government healthcare institutions in Garo hills, Hek said the government was committed to address the problems.

He said the department would take all possible steps to ensure that students who pursue MBBS under the state quota return to the state.

Several citizens' organisations have submitted memorandums to the government in the past two years seeking redressal of the health-care facilities.

Activist Samgar Sangma suggested the government draft in specialist doctors and appoint them on contract with an attractive package and facilities, so that they would be willing to serve in the remote areas of Garo hills.

Activist Chuba Marak from Baghmara said, "We desperately need specialist doctors."

Marak also pointed out the acute shortage of manpower in premier hospitals at Baghmara and Williamnagar, while stating that overall facilities at laboratories and blood banks should be enhanced.