Jiri body threatens stir over doctors' shortage
Source: Chronicle News Service

Jiribam, December 26 2024: District Hospital Monitoring Committee of Jiribam has threatened to launch intense protests, including blockade of NH-37 (Imphal-Jiribam Road), if authorities concerned fail do not post sufficient and qualified doctors including chief medical officer (CMO) and deputy medical superintendent (DMS) for the 50-bedded Jiribam District Hospital.

Addressing media persons on Wednesday, Committee convenor N Sadananda Meitei stated that Jiribam denizens, along with various CSOs of the state, have been urging the state government to post doctors to the Jiribam District Hospital.

"Despite repeated appeals, an order had been issued for the transfer of some of the hospital's existing doctors," he said, condemning the move in the strongest term.

He also demanded that doctors of the same grade as those transferred, along with qualified replacements, be sent to the hospital immediately, while also criticising the appointment of a junior doctor as the DMS of the Hospital.

The convenor alleged that the new DMS has a history of dereliction of duty, citing instances where he was absent from the hospital even during the critical period of the COVlD-19 pandemic.

Sadananda further contended that the construction and repair work at the Hospital is still far from completion, with less than 20 percent of the assigned task competed till date.

Contrary to 80 per cent of the project work pending, authorities visited the hospital to obtain a completion certificate, he claimed, and likened such act to abetting corruption.

He also advised authorities concerned not to transform the hospital into a "business venture " for contractors and government employees.

Maintaining that the committee cannot accept the transfer order of the hospital doctors, he said that the government instead of sending 'in-charge', ensure posting of full-time CMO and MDS.

"The order of the state government should be revoked by January 1 next year failing which intense form of agitation including blockade of NH-37 would be resorted to from January 2, 2025," he reiterated.

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