NEIGRIHMS’ doctors call off strike after assurance from govt

Health Minister AL Hek assured the resident doctors that their grievances would be addressed at the earliest and appealed that they desist from such strike or shutdown in the interest of the patients.

“I have already had a meeting with the agitating resident doctors in my chamber and they have decided to call off the strike,” Hek said in a statement.

Earlier, the doctors under the banner of the NEIGRIHMS-Resident Doctors’ Association (NRDA) decided to stage an indefinite total shutdown of services from today as a mark of protest against the autocratic style of functioning of the incumbent Director Dr DM Thapa.

Demanding for his immediate removal, the NDRA has alleged that faculties are resigning from various departments including department of medical oncology, anaesthesia, gynaecology and obstetrics, paediatric, radiology, orthopaedics due to “administrative letdown” under the incumbent director.

Taking cognizance of the serious matter about the shutdown by the agitating doctors, the health minister said, “I have taken up the matter strongly with officials of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to resolve the matter.”

Hek also informed that he along with the chief minister Conrad K Sangma had also met Union Health Minister JP Nadda few months back in New Dehli in which he assured that he would take action to resolve the outstanding issues of NEIGRIHMS.

“Letters have also been sent from  my side to  the Director  of NEIGRIHMS and agitating  doctors  to  resolve all issues and desist from  such extreme  action which would  result  in difficulties to patients,” he said.

Appealing to all agitating doctors to desist from shutdown, the health minister said, “Upon my appeal I have been informed that there is normal functioning of NEIGRIHMS with little disruption (due to the strike).”

According to him, such a shutdown of medical services has the potential to disrupt healthcare and is bound to greatly affect patients. It may even result in loss of valuable lives which is unacceptable, unfortunate and completely avoidable.

On contacting, NRDA president Dr Synrang Batngen Warjri said that the association has decided to suspend the strike after getting the assurance from the health minister.

“However, we will be sitting for a meeting tomorrow to decide on our future course action if our grievances are not address,” he said.

Earlier while speaking to reporters at the sidelines of the protest, Dr Warjri said that the association has been demanding the removal of the incumbent director for the past two years.

“The institute is suffering from acute shortage of manpower due to mismanagement by the director. We therefore demand that vacancies should be immediately filled up so that PG courses can be started and better services can be given to the patients,” he said.

The NRDA president said the association also demanded immediate withdrawal of improper character, conduct, integrity certificate issued to one Dr Tony Ete.

Asked, Dr Warjri however said there was shutdown of only OPD services but not for emergencies and in patients.

By Our Reporter