Tousem bodies rue collapse of healthcare system
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, April 15 2025: Likening healthcare system in Tousem to an alarming crisis, endangering the lives of thousands of residents, Tousem Area Village Authority Council said Tousem Public Health Centre (PHC) has been operating without a single doctor for the past five months.

In a release, the Council explained that according to the official norms, the PHC is required to have five MBBS medical officers and one senior medical officer.

However, absence of medical staff and essential facilities has severely compromised access to basic healthcare, leaving the local population in a state of neglect, and without any provision for timely medical care during emergencies.

In a related and equally concerning matter, the Primary Health Sub-Centre (PHSC) at Aben village, which falls under Tousem sub-division and was inaugurated on January 22, 2025 remains entirely non-operational.

To date, no equipment has been installed, staff appointed, and basic infrastructure made available.

The building, intended to serve as a crucial healthcare facility, now stands abandoned, deteriorating rapidly, and serving no purpose, it denounced.

With the monsoon season fast approaching - a time when travel becomes extremely difficult and water and vector-borne diseases increase - the urgency to restore healthcare facilities cannot be overstated.

The failure to operationalise this health centre before the monsoon will severely endanger the lives of local population and expose them to serious health risks, it pointed out, while regretting that repeated appeals and representations by the public to department concerned and local MLA have failed to elicit any concrete action.

The continued inactions by the authorities reflect a serious failure of governance and a blatant disregard for the fundamental rights to health enshrined under the constitution.

Stating that the gross negligence has put countless lives at risk, the council urged authorities concerned to take immediate and effective actions, calling as imperative that the Tousem PHC and Aben PHSC are made fully operational at the earliest, with the appointment of adequate medical doctors and staff and provision of necessary facilities, for the benefit and well-being of the people.

Meanwhile, Tousem Area Students' Organisation in a release expressed deep concern over continued absence of a medical officer at Tousem Primary Health Centre (PHC).

Since the departure of Dr Gaihiam Pamei from the post, the PHC has remained without a doctor, leaving the entire region without access to essential medical care, it denounced, while cautioning that they will be forced to launch agitation if a qualified doctor is not posted at Tousem PHC within short notice.

The release further urged department concerned to treat the matter on priority and act swiftly in the interest of public health and safety.

The people of Tousem deserve accessible healthcare and should not be made to Suffer due to administrative apathy, it added.

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