public grievances department of NPCC conducting a press conference on March 24.
Morung Express News
Dimapur | March 24
The Public Grievances Department (PGD) of the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has reminded the Health and Family Welfare (H&FW) Minister not to take the medical sector lightly. According to the PGD, government-run hospitals, across the state are facing a general lack of medical equipments and personnel, including technicians, despite the H&FW spending some Rs 40-240 crore in between 2023-25 allegedly for improving health services.
The Naga Hospital in Kohima, supposed to best state-run hospital in the state, lacks functional CT scan and mammogram machines. The allegation came from the Chairperson of the PGD, Er Meshenlo Kath at a press conference at the Congress Bhavan, Dimapur on March 24. He made mention of a press statement dating to May 2024, through which the PGD urged the Naga Hospital Authority to get the machines functional.
“It's not that we have not reminded them, we have reminded them many times (since),” he said, adding that the apathetic attitude is equivalent to playing with the life of the people. The Naga Hospital serves as the referral hospital for many patients from other rural districts. As a result of the hospital lacking the said diagnostic machines, he said that patients get referred to private hospitals. He added that the lack of a CT scan machine and radiologist is also being felt in Zunheboto district.
Despite becoming a state much earlier than most other states in the NE, he said that Nagaland continues its poor showing in health sector, while other states have made progress.
Kath further alleged that there are 57 Primary Health Centres without a resident doctor. He alleged that the state government has not advertised recruitment for the posts of doctors and nurses for years.
While some associations and unions did oppose the special recruitment drive for 280 vacancies (including doctors, nurses, technicians, and radiologists), this opposition is not the sole reason for the drive's failure. According to him, the government may deflect blame onto the public or certain associations and unions, claiming they are obstructing the special recruitment drive. However, he held that the root cause lies with the government itself.
NPCC Communications Department Chairperson Yanger Longkumer termed the lacks in the state’s health sector an injustice and tragedy. He said that even minor ailments turn chronic in such a scenario. “No excuse is good enough. These are basic things. It should be available. This is a matter of lack of accountability. This is a matter of misgovernance. This is a matter of utter and total neglect,” he said.
