Shillong: The State Health Systems Resource Centre (SHSRC) Meghalaya will conduct an annual health survey to generate district-level insights on population health, service utilisation and emerging health challenges across the state.The survey, which is expected to be completed by Jan 2027, aims to support data-driven healthcare planning by identifying key health trends and prioritising interventions.The initiative is aimed at bridging critical data gaps and supporting evidence-based decision-making in the healthcare system.The survey is expected to produce annual ‘district health profiles’ along with a population health and wellness score to help local administrators better understand health issues, officials said.The SHSRC is a technical support unit of the Meghalaya govt for strengthening the state’s health system in order to improve the health outcomes of its citizens.The SHSRC has taken on board the Oxford Policy Management India through a quality-cum-cost based selection process to implement the initiative.The SHSRC has already published the Meghalaya Health Atlas, a comprehensive compilation of key health indicators across districts and population groups. The Atlas aims to present data in a clear, visual format that can support evidence-based planning and highlight priority areas for action, officials said.State health authorities said the findings will play a key role in improving planning, problem-solving, and service delivery at the district level, particularly in addressing region-specific health concerns.In addition to the health survey, the SHSRC has also initiated a pilot project on Electronic Health Records (EHR) to tackle the long-standing issue of fragmented patient data. The system aims to create unified digital health records, allowing healthcare providers to access patient histories in real time and improving continuity of care, an official said.At present, the EHR pilot is being implemented at Mawphlang Community Health Centre (CHC), Pomlum Primary Health Centre (PHC), and Ummulong CHC.An additional 28 health facilities have already expressed interest in adopting the system, health officials said.Both the innovative initiatives of data-driven health surveys and digital patient record mark a step towards strengthening Meghalaya’s healthcare delivery system, improving clinical outcomes, and ensuring more responsive public health interventions, officials said.
