Powering Healthcare, Building Resilience: Meghalaya’s Energy For Health Journey

By Bhaswati K Goswami

“Just a few years ago, power outages meant deliveries were conducted under the light of mobile phone torches, vaccines risked spoilage, and emergency services often faced disruptions. Today, reliable solar power has transformed the facility. Labour rooms remain operational around the clock, critical equipment functions uninterrupted, and healthcare workers can respond confidently to emergencies at any hour. The change has strengthened community trust, improved maternal and newborn care, and encouraged more families to seek treatment and institutional deliveries at the centre. For patients and staff alike, solar energy has become a lifeline that powers not only healthcare services, but also safety, dignity, and hope,” says Dr. Fernandez A Lamin, Medical Officer at Jarain Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Amlarem Block, West Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya,
Dr Lamin has witnessed the transformative impact of reliable solar power on healthcare delivery. With 14 years of experience in public health, including nearly six years at Jarain PHC, his testimony offers valuable insights into how sustainable energy solutions strengthen health services and enhance community well-being. The Meghalaya Health Systems Strengthening Project, launched in August 2022, brought together the state government, National Health Mission in Meghalaya, SELCO Foundation (SF), and Sauramandala Foundation to develop energy-optimised, climate-resilient health facilities. The initiative subsequently became an important part of the broader Energy for Health (E4H) approach. The state has emerged as one of the country's leading examples of a holistic approach, demonstrating how decentralised renewable energy can be integrated to strengthen public healthcare systems at scale. Launched in 2023 and implemented with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and State Health Missions, the E4H programme aims to deploy 100 MW of solar energy systems across 25,000 public healthcare facilities in 12 states by 2026, ensuring uninterrupted healthcare services at the last mile. Across the Northeast, the programme now covers more than 3500 primary health facilities. The programme is rooted in a simple but critical idea: reliable energy is essential for quality healthcare. In many rural and remote facilities, unreliable electricity can disrupt maternal and newborn care, immunisation, vaccine storage, diagnostics and emergency treatment.
Meghalaya'’s geography and climate make resilience a critical consideration. Heavy rainfall, strong winds, landslides, earthquakes and frequent lightning can affect both healthcare operations and infrastructure. The solar energy systems and health facilities developed under the programme are therefore designed to withstand these conditions. As of September 2026, all functional Sub-Centres and Primary Health Centres in the state are supported by solar-powered energy systems, making decentralised renewable energy an integral part of healthcare infrastructure.
One of the initiative'’s most significant achievements has been the development of climate-resilient model health centres and labour rooms. The Government of Meghalaya, supported by SF is leading the way with the design of 300 new climate-adaptive Health and Wellness Centres to serve as first points of care. These facilities are designed around the needs of both patients and healthcare workers rather than merely serving as physical structures. These include covered waiting areas that provide shelter from rain and harsh sunlight, dedicated maternal and child health spaces designed to support safe and dignified deliveries. Improved ventilation, natural daylighting, and thermal comfort measures help mitigate heat stress for patients and health workers. Universal accessibility, inclusive design, community spaces and well-being-oriented planning ensure that they effectively serve pregnant women, elderly persons, children and people with disabilities.
A defining feature of Meghalaya’s E4H journey is its emphasis on ownership. Before systems are installed, healthcare personnel are trained not only to understand the technology but also to operate and maintain it. This ensures that local teams can identify problems, take corrective action and maintain continuity of services. Increasingly, health facilities treat solar systems as critical assets, maintaining them in the same manner as medical equipment and digital infrastructure.
Beyond institutional systems, the initiative has invested in local champions like Dr. Lamin. Doctors, nurses, village leaders, district health officers and senior government officials who witness the impact of E4H become strong advocates for the programme. Their support has helped accelerate adoption and strengthen accountability. Community participation has been equally important, particularly in sustaining infrastructure over time. Healthcare workers are trained in the use of clean energy technologies, while Remote Monitoring Systems (RMS) and data loggers track system performance, enabling issues to be identified and addressed before they disrupt services. Regular monitoring and technical support further help ensure system reliability and sustained service delivery. Community-based organisations have emerged as key partners in this effort. In Ri Bhoi district, for instance, the NGO Mosonie Socio-Economic Foundation has developed a dedicated health team that supports physical monitoring and functions as part of the operations and maintenance ecosystem. Senior and block-level technicians, regular visits and feedback mechanisms help ensure that systems remain functional.
The impact of community engagement is evident in the way some communities have begun taking responsibility for maintaining their energy systems. In Mawlyndep Sub centre in Ri Bhoi district, the village headman has encouraged households to contribute ₹50 annually towards solar maintenance, supplementing funds available through the Jan Arogya Samiti. This is expected to be finalised soon. In other locations, communities and health centres have allocated resources for routine maintenance, including repairs to earthing systems and lightning arresters. Such examples represent an important shift. Sustainable infrastructure depends also on local ownership and the ability to address small maintenance requirements before they become major failures. The energy systems have also been integrated into the assets of the health department ensuring annual allocation for maintenance costs and management.
The initiative has also expanded beyond healthcare facilities. SF is supporting the solarization of Anganwadi centres in partnership with Meghalaya Early Childhood Development Mission (MECDM) across the state. Solar systems have already been installed in 188 Anganwadi centres across the Khasi and Garo Hills, with a target of powering 1,000 additional centres by December 2026. This expansion extends the benefits of reliable energy to spaces that are central to early childhood care, nutrition and community development, including the welfare of young mothers. The programme has also contributed to the upgrading of more than 2,200 Anganwadi centres across the state with cool roofing, improved ventilation and natural lighting, making the spaces more child and learning friendly.
Meghalaya'’s pursuit of climate resilience and energy independence through E4H has generated benefits beyond healthcare outcomes, including reduced operational costs and improved financial viability of health system modernization efforts. The programme has also created livelihood opportunities for local solar service providers, technicians, and maintenance partners, contributing to Meghalaya's growing green economy. By linking renewable energy, climate-resilient infrastructure, and community participation, the initiative demonstrates how sustainable public health investments can improve essential services, generate local economic benefits, and build more reliable, inclusive, and climate-ready healthcare systems.
(The writer is a Consultant, Selco Foundation)