Shillong, June 5: The Parliamentary Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) held a meeting in Shillong on Friday to review child health programmes in India and discuss measures to strengthen child healthcare policies across the country.
The meeting, held at Courtyard by Marriott, was chaired by Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare and Chemicals & Fertilizers, Jagat Prakash Nadda. Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare and Chemicals & Fertilizers, Anupriya Patel, also participated in the deliberations.
Members of Parliament from both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha attended the meeting, where discussions focused on improving various aspects of child health services and policies in India. Senior officials present included Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava, Secretary of the Department of Health Research and Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Dr. Rajiv Bahl, and Director of North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences, Prof. Nalin Mehta.
Following the meeting, committee members visited the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) to assess the institute’s infrastructure and functioning, with special emphasis on child healthcare services. The delegation toured the pediatric outpatient department and wards, interacted with patients, and expressed satisfaction with the quality of healthcare services being provided to children.
The visit also coincided with the observance of World Environment Day 2026. Members of Parliament and senior officials participated in a tree plantation drive within the NEIGRIHMS campus, planting saplings to mark the occasion. Participants echoed this year’s theme, “Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future,” highlighting the importance of environmental conservation and climate resilience.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Nalin Mehta described the committee meeting and visit as successful. He stated that the Ministry’s initiative would contribute significantly to improving child healthcare services nationwide and affirmed NEIGRIHMS’ commitment to supporting the programme as a premier tertiary healthcare institution in the Northeast.
NEIGRIHMS Medical Superintendent Sr. Prof. Suvamoy Chakraborty, along with doctors and staff of the institute, were also present during the visit and tree plantation programme.
