Dimapur, Nov. 20 (EMN): Doctors playing truant at designated government hospitals continue to represent a major stumbling block to citizens of the state from receiving proper medical treatment. The Mokokchung Town Lanur Telongjem (MTLT) – an extremely vocal youth group from Mokokchung – has raised alarm over what it stated was ‘irregularities’ of doctors at Imkongliba Memorial District Hospital (IMDH), one of the oldest hospitals in the district – if not entire state.
A press release from the MTLT on Monday informed that it had met Imkonng Imchen, the minister for Health and Family Welfare on November 17 last to share its concern. “The MTLT also took very serious note of the irregularities of doctors at the hospital. This is one persistent grievance aired out by the patients, and the MTLT would seriously take note of this public grievance and the hospital, or the government, would be held responsible if any patient die due to non-attendance or non-performance of the doctors.”
It informed that the group had raised similar concern with the authorities of the hospital. “The MTLT, as one of the concerned citizen based organizations in Mokokchung town, had been hearing many grievances from the patients and attendants who approach the IMDH for their varied ailments. The MTLT also duly acknowledged the words of grievances and met with the IMDH officials and shared and discussed how to make the only government district hospital run in a better way.
“Likewise, the MTLT also called an emergency meeting on November 15, 2017 and resolved to meet the medical minister, government of Nagaland, Imkong L Imchen at the earliest and share the predicament of the patients. Therefore, the MTLT officials duly met the medical minister at his official residence on November 17, 2017.”
The MTLT pointed out that ‘of the many plights and inconveniences faced by the common public’, it took ‘serious note’ of the lack of proper water supply at the hospital. “With the dry season approaching, the lack of water supply (or for that matter, the improper distribution of water supply to the patients) at the hospital is a serious matter which should be taken up at the earliest.”
It also listed 'the issue of irregular power supply at the hospital, the functioning of the Blood Bank and the lack of proper infrastructure at the hospital’ as issues that needed immediate redress. “The MTLT also discussed about the lack of an Intensive Care Unit (ICU), an incubator for new born babies and even a proper government ambulance.
“The medical minister assured to look into the issues and do the needful at the earliest for which the MTLT express deep our deep appreciation. At the same time, the MTLT asks the government of Nagaland to initiate the necessary actions in a time bound manner.”
It pointed out at the IMDH was the “first referral point for hundreds of patients not only for Mokokchung district but also for the sisters districts (sic) like Tuensang, Zunheboto, Longleng etc.”
