Dimapur, Sep. 8 (EMN): The Nagaland Public Rights Awareness and Action Forum (NPRAAF) on Sunday insisted that it had raised issues against the Christian Institute of Health Sciences Research (CIHSR)—more commonly known as Referral Hospital in Dimapur—simply ‘as a vigilant public forum desiring to see systematic functioning of the hospital.’
The forum issued a statement claiming that it does not expect the hospital’s doctors to engage in confrontation with any organisation—an apparent reference to the clarification made by the director of CIHSR in this newspaper.
The NPRAAF expects the CIHSR to take the forum’s observation ‘in the right spirit and make effort to serve the poor patients’, it went on to state. The forum will continue to ‘remain vigilant to ensure that all is well in the CIHSR’s service to the poor patients of the state,’ it added.
While appreciating Dr. Sedevi Angami for responding to the forum’s allegations, the NPRAAF stated that it would have been “more appropriate if the EHA or the Christian Institute of Health Sciences Research (CIHSR) board” had fronted up.
“NPRAAF would like to reiterate its earlier statement that Referral Hospital rates are lower in comparison to other private hospitals. However, the rates should be made more affordable to the poor patients as the hospital is a venture of EHA, CMC Vellore and government of Nagaland without profit motive as enshrined in the tripartite MoU,” read the statement.
According to the forum, it was unwarranted from the doctor to say that there is no need to rectify the MoU as the president of CIHSR society is the chief secretary of Nagaland. “NPRAAF fails to understand why the state government, in the CIHSR team, alone should be made accountable for any financial mismanagement.”
Claiming that the number of CIHSR employees it had given in its earlier statement was based on information “through source”, the forum said it ‘certainly appreciates’ if the figure given by the director in his rejoinder is valid.
“NPRAAF, however, appreciates Dr. Sedevi for admitting that INR 4,012.92 lakh was used in constructing and re-constructing buildings, buying hospital equipments and so on, which made it amply clear that EHA and CMC Vellore did not invest even a rupee in the hospital besides getting the land free of cost. Therefore, the hospital must work with a philanthropic mind and not for profit,” it stated.
