The Mizoram government has sought additional funds from the Centre to improve the health sector.

A health department official on Wednesday said health minister R. Lalthangliana called on Union tribal affairs secretary Deepak Khandekar in New Delhi on Tuesday and asked him for additional funds for upgrade of public health centres and sub-centres in the state. The minister also asked to raise the quantum of funds for health and wellness centres, he said.

They also discussed about the proposal for construction of boys and girls’ hostels at Zoram Medical College.

At present, there are 147 health clinics in the state. Some of them are run from rented buildings and houses, constructed with the help of NGOs.

Lalthangliana asked Khandekar to provide funds for maintenance of such clinics and also for construction of multipurpose halls and hostels in government colleges, an official statement said on Wednesday.

Lalthangliana also met Union secretary for Ayush, Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, and discussed the proposed Ayush hospital in Mizoram and asked him to provide a significant number of specialised doctors, the statement said.

He also called on Union secretary for micro, small and medium enterprises Arun Kumar Panda and DoNER secretary Inderjit Singh on Tuesday. They discussed various issues pertaining to setting up of a common facility centre in the state, the statement added.

Lalthangliana was accompanied by Mizoram House resident commissioner Ajay Chaudhury.