Dimapur Congress rejects Health department clarification

Demands full disclosure of DPRs, inspection reports within 10 days

DIMAPUR — Dimapur District Congress Committee (DDCC) has rejected the clarification issued by the Medical Engineering Wing of Health and Family Welfare department, terming it an “evasive and unsatisfactory” response to its allegations of mismanagement and corruption in various health infrastructure projects.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the DDCC countered that the department’s explanations had failed to address the core issues with “transparency and documentary proof that the public rightfully deserves.”

It maintained that its allegations, based on Right to Information (RTI) replies and physical verification, remain “firm” against what it described as the department’s “unsubstantiated claims.”

According to the DDCC, the department’s justification that projects were “ongoing” or that quality issues would be “rectified” was inadequate in the face of specific complaints regarding poor workmanship, delays, and wastage of public money.

Related: Dimapur Congress flags alleged mismanagement in Health department

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Reiterating its demand for transparency, the committee issued a 10-day ultimatum for the public release of key project documents, including: the Detailed Project Report (DPR), cost break-ups and architectural plans for ‘Upgradation of Nursing College at District Hospital Dimapur’; the DPR, final inspection report, completion certificate, and the names and designations of officials involved in the Integrated Public Health Laboratory (IPHL) at the same hospital; and the DPR, contractor details, and completion certificate for the Staff Quarters at Kuhuboto PHC.

The DDCC further urged the state government to order a comprehensive audit of all completed health infrastructure projects in Dimapur, Chümoukedima and Niuland districts, to be conducted either by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India or by a special team appointed by the chief secretary.

Such an audit, it stated, was necessary to restore public confidence and ensure accountability for public funds.

The committee also accused the department of ignoring several key issues raised during its earlier press conference on November 6, including the shortage of doctors and nurses in Primary and Community Health Centres across the three districts, the unresolved fourth-grade job issue involving land donors, unauthorised constructions within Niuland PHC premises, and discrepancies in medicine procurement and vendor selection.

It also cited complaints about the “exorbitant cost of blood tests” at the Dimapur District Hospital blood bank, terming them unaffordable for ordinary citizens.

“The people of Nagaland deserve a health department that is accountable, transparent and effective,” the DDCC stated, warning that it would resort to a public demonstration at the District Hospital Dimapur if the department failed to respond with the demanded documents and a commitment to an independent audit within the stipulated 10-day period.