Healthcare remains a sham in Ukhrul
Source: Hueiyen News Service / R Lester Makang

Ukhrul, April 26 2015 : Despite the noticeable improvement in the strength of doctors at Ukhrul District Hospital (UDH) in recent times, the dispensation of healthcare and services to the public by the ill-equipped hospital -- the only government run health centre in the whole township -- still leaves much to be desired.

Hueiyen Lanpao Correspondent went to visit UDH and found out various shortfalls in the way healthcare services have been provided and also found out why many patients have been left disgruntled.

As it came to light, a mere increase in the number of medical officers has not been able to do much for the overall improvement in the healthcare service of UDH which had been long plagued by acute manpower shortage and paucity of requisite facilities.

Patients lined up for their turn at the UDH

It is learnt that a Government order dated 12 March, 2015 directed a total of 32 new doctors for posting in Ukhrul District of which some 10 doctors are retained at UDH.

Ironically, 8 doctors out of the 32 were found absent even during the orientation programme held earlier this month at UDH.

"While many of them do not stay at their place of posting and commute from Imphal every day, some who had been very irregular have even indulged in proxy attendance," disclosed a reliable source.

"Somehow the workload of those existing medical officers has been eased by the recent addition of new ones," the source informed while pointing out that unavailability of requisite equipments and specialists inter alia has nevertheless remained a constraint on the healthcare service of the hospital.

A male patient had complained that he could not take his X-Ray as there was an alleged technical trouble while wondering if the service was really available.

Another patient expressed bewilderment as to why the Ultrasound facility has not been made available to the public except pregnant women when the machine is already installed at the hospital.

On being confronted with these posers, UDH authority said that X-Ray service could not be provided whenever there is power cut as the district hospital does not have a power generator.

Regarding Ultrasound service, it was clarified that in the absence of a Sonologist the hospital is only providing minimum service by utilizing a technician from DMMU who only has working skills for pregnancy cases.

On the public grumbling over the alleged hefty amount charged by the hospital for conducting various blood tests, sources disclosed that the laboratory is being "purely" run and managed by the staff without any assistance from the Government.

"We have to charge certain amount from the patients as we also purchase all testing kits and other consumables" .

The public have alleged that they are charged as high as Rs 150 for medical tests related to illnesses like Typhoid, Malaria etc at the Government hospital.

Meanwhile, sources have disclosed that some doctors who own drugstores in the town are taking undue advantage of their job by prescribing their patients such medications that they only stock.

It was learnt that in some instances, these doctors openly directed the patients to their pharmacies.