Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma visited Baghmara to address concerns raised by the district administration and community stakeholders, with Chief Secretary Shakil P Ahammed among the officials present. A significant point of discussion was the Baghmara Civil Hospital, where it was reported that while specialist doctors had been assigned, none had yet joined, resulting in the absence of specialist services. The current medical staffing consists of just 11 medical officers, far below the requisite 22 doctors, including specialists. Additionally, there are shortages of nursing and biomedical personnel.
Despite these staffing challenges, the hospital is undergoing upgrades, including a functional blood storage unit and an operational operation theatre where Caesarean sections and other surgical procedures are being performed. A pilot project aimed at installing a Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) at the hospital has begun, with completion expected in three to four weeks. This STP will help treat sewage and chemical waste and alleviate existing septic tank issues caused by waterlogging; if successful, the model may be extended to other district hospitals.
During the meeting, the Chief Minister instructed officials to promptly tackle shortages of nurses and paramedical staff. Other critical issues discussed included ensuring a reliable water supply, ambulance availability, and improving post-operative care infrastructure. Officials were tasked with securing an uninterrupted water supply and initiating necessary repairs and renovations at the hospital. Furthermore, regarding land compensation issues, the Chief Minister assured that the Ministry of Home Affairs would be informed, especially in connection with the land designated for the Baghmara Stadium, with directions to resolve this matter within the week.