PREPAK to mount vigil on health sector
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 11 2012: Pointing out a number of unethical and inhuman practices committed by doctors on their patients in Manipur, the proscribed PREPAK has decided to mount a strict vigil on the conduct and activities of doctors, hospitals and clinics from June 25 onward.

While accessibility to health care facility has been accepted as a fundamental human right in many countries, people of Manipur have been deprived of the same right, the outfit remarked in a statement issued by publicity and propaganda assistant secretary Leibakngakpa Luwang.

In Manipur, it is one abominable practice of doctors to ask money from patients before performing any surgical operation.

When the patient parties 'present' money a little less than the amount demanded by doctors, the patients are not given full attention.

In many such cases, doctors treat their patients half-heartedly often leading to further deterioration of health rather than recovery.

Many doctors are also practising illegal abortion without any restraint.

It has become a routine affair to send patients undergoing treatment in Government hospitals to private clinics, hospitals and diagnostic centres for any kind of laboratory tests.

A sketch of a hospital

Though RIMS and JNIMS have adequate equipment and machines, their patients are sent to private clinics for investigation.

It is also no secret that Government doctors get certain commission from private clinics to which they send their patients for laboratory tests and investigations, said the outfit.

All these unethical practices of Government doctors have been causing untold misery to the people, particularly the impoverished mass.

This is despite the fact Government doctors are being given Non-Practising Allowance so that they serve their patients at emergency situations after OPD hours.

But no doctors can be seen in any Government hospital after OPD hours, the outfit noted.

As the doctors have gone to private clinics after OPD hours, the poor patients are literally left to their own fates even if their health condition demands immediate attention of doctors.

The outfit further observed that majority of the doctors posted in rural and hill areas do not attend their office regularly.

Doctors are instrumental for creating a situation where patients can only suffer and wait for death because of their absence in far flung hill areas.

Moreover, many articles and materials which should be made available to patients free of cost in Government hospitals and health centres are conspicuously not available at these places.

Pointing out that doctors are next to god to any patient, PREPAK appealed to all doctors and clinics to reduce their investigation/examination fees.

It also categorically stated that no Government doctor should open private clinic.

It further added that abortion done with a view to earn extra money has been banned completely.

Those at the helm of affairs in Health Department, Family Welfare Department, JNIMS and RIMS should not make any compromise both qualitatively and quantitatively regarding any construction work related to health sector, supply and purchase of medicines, equipment etc.

Doctors must conform to their professional ethics otherwise PREPAK would be constrained to keep a strict vigil over their activities as well as hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centres, it added.