Specialist docs to be deputed to hills
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 27 2014:
Even as Chief Minister Okram Ibobi has issued strict instruction to work agencies to complete the construction of buildings of 50-bedded district hospitals of Chandel, Ukhrul and Tamenglong to the State Government by December this year, it has been decided to depute specialist doctors in hill districts for two months on rotational basis.
The decision was taken at a high level meeting held at the Chief Minister's office chamber with himself in the chair today.
The meeting seriously deliberated on enhancing health care facilities in hill areas, said an official source.
Health Minister Phungzathang Tonsing, Industries Minister K Govindas, Principal Secretary (Health) J Suresh Babu, officials from State Health Services, MDS and PDA attended the meeting.
The source said that the Chief Minister gave strict instruction to work agencies to complete construction of 50-bedded district hospitals of Ukhrul, Chandel and Tamenglong and hand it over to the Government by December this year.
In order to enhance health care facilities in the hill districts, the meeting also decided to enforce a rotational plan for specialist doctors in hill areas for two months each without disturbing their MGEL status.
The new system would be put into effect soon by issuing an order within this month, the source added.
The meeting observed that all the specialist doctors including women doctors would not have any problem with the new arrangement as two months is not a long time.
Under this new system, specialist doctors of gynaecology, paediatric and surgery would be sent to Ukhrul, Tamenglong and Moreh hospitals, the source said and added that the arrangement would not only solve the problems faced by expecting mothers but also reduce the infant mortality rate.
The number of child delivery centres in the State has increased from 28 to 58, the source said and added that new centres would be opened as well.