Aizawl, May 8, 2025, Virthli (ONP): A joint review meeting on Quality of Care and Human Resource for Health was held yesterday under the Mizoram Health Systems Strengthening Project (MHSSP), organized by the Health & Family Welfare Department in collaboration with the World Bank. The discussion took place at the Auditorium of the Directorate of Hospital & Medical Education, MINECO.
Representatives from the World Bank, including Dr. Aarushi Bhantnagar (Health Economist), Dr. Lincoln Chowdhury (Consultant), and Mr. Ranjeeth B. Kumar (Consultant), attended the session. Officials from the Principal Director’s office, Directorate of Health Services, Directorate of Hospital and Medical Education, Directorate of AYUSH, Directorate of Nursing, Zoram Medical College Hospital (ZMC-H), and the Chief Medical Officers of Aizawl East and West also participated.
Dr. Lily Chhakchhuak, Project Director of MHSSP and Mission Director of the National Health Mission (NHM), expressed her gratitude to the attending officers and acknowledged the various improvements achieved under MHSSP. She highlighted that 18 health facilities in Mizoram have now received National Quality Assurance Standard (NQAS) certification, marking significant progress in healthcare delivery in the state. Dr. Chhakchhuak emphasized that these developments are crucial steps towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and called for sustained efforts to benefit the people of Mizoram.
Dr. Lincoln Chowdhury from the World Bank noted that Mizoram has made commendable strides in improving healthcare quality compared to other Northeastern states and has become a model for others. He mentioned that Mizoram’s use of effective tools and strategies in this regard has positioned the state for continued advancement.
A presentation on the findings and progress related to human resources in the Health Department was delivered by Dr. Lalnuntluangi, Deputy Project Director of MHSSP. The presentation revealed that a majority of healthcare personnel in the state are contractual rather than regular staff, and that approximately 68% of the state’s health budget is allocated toward staff salaries. The need for improved recruitment policies, specialized training for health professionals, and better infrastructure for conducting such training was also discussed.
The meeting also featured deliberations on the functioning and evaluation of the State Quality Assurance Committee. Participants reviewed various challenges in enhancing the quality of healthcare services and suggested targeted interventions for improvement.
This collaborative review is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the health system in Mizoram and ensure better healthcare access and outcomes for its citizens.
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