Limited OTs, mismanagement land JNIMS in quandary
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 15 2018: With only 3/4 operation theatres in working condition, the number of surgical operations performed in JNIMS has dwindled drastically thereby causing untold misery to a large number of people, particularly economically weaker sections.

However, the State Government has been paying little attention to the matter which is only multiplying people's anguish and their complaints.

Earlier, JNIMS had 8/9 functional operation theatres and at least 30 surgical operations were performed in a day.

Some of these operation theatres became dysfunctional due to technical problems in the first week of June and the total number of functional operation theatres was reduced to just four.

Correspondingly, the number of surgical operations performed in a day came down to 10 to 15.The Sangai Express had carried a report on the matter on June 12.Even though it has been over one month since almost of the total operation theatres broke down and became dysfunctional, there is no sign of repairing the operation theatres till date.

The number of surgical operations performed at JNIMS these days out of compulsion is quite below the number of routine operations done earlier.

OPD patients who need surgical operations are no longer entertained thereby causing severe inconveniences to the general public particularly the poor.

Now they go to private hospitals for surgical operations at much higher costs.

At first, JNIMS had' six operation theatres.

In due course of time, seven more operation theatres were opened.

Of the seven operation theatres opened later, two are modular operation theatres equipped with centralised AC.

Many of the seven operation theatres constructed with PWD as the implementing agency are not usable because either the gas pipeline or AC is not working, lighting system is incomplete or the floor is broken/uneven, informed a source.

The process of handing over, taking over for the seven operation theatres has not been completed till date.

There was an instance when a patient undergoing surgical operation was given carbon dioxide instead of oxygen due to a serious flaw in the gas pipeline of one of the seven operation theatres.

Subsequently upon the outrageous goof up, routine surgical operations were suspended at JNIMS for some days in the first week of June.

On the other hand, there is not a single Professor at the JNIMS Forensic Science Department (PG course).

The post was left vacant after the Professor teaching at the department resigned.

As per MCI guidelines, there should be one Professor, one Associate Professor and one Assistant Professor if a department intends to open PG course.

There is a possibility of de-recognising the PG course of Forensic Science Department if MCI comes for inspection, said the source.

Even though it was reported that former JNIMS Director Dr Shyamo was arrested by NIA from Delhi on July 6, JNIMS authority is yet to initiate any action so far.

As per rules, if a Government servant has been arrested for more than 24 hours by police or an investigation agency, he/she must be placed under suspension.

If the charges levelled against the Government servant are found genuine after due investigation, he/she must be dismissed.

After his arrest on July 6, Dr Shyamo was remanded to NIA custody for 10 days.

Given this situation, Dr Shyamo deserves suspension.

But the authority concerned rather than taking up any action against Dr Shyamo seems to be shielding the former Director.

Notably, NIA has already registered an FIR against Dr Shyamo on the charge of collecting funds for the proscribed KCP.

Chargesheets were already submitted against him on December 1 last year and May 24 this year.

NIA recovered Rs 40 lakh and other documents from Dr Shyamo's residence during a raid on July 2.The State Vigilance has also registered a case against him in connection with purchase of equipment of JNIMS at inflated prices when he was the Director of the State Government's lone medical institute.

After a new Director was appointed on July 17, 2015, the Health and Family Welfare Under Secretary issued an order whereby Dr SByamo was deputed as a Professor at the Department of Anatomy.

But nobody checked whether he attended his office regularly all these years or not, added the source.

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