State govt urges Centre to institute inquiry into NEIGRIHMS row

“We would immediately write to the Centre to institute an inquiry committee within this week,” Health Minister AL Hek told reporters here on Tuesday.

Hek said that investigation against the incumbent director of NEIGRIHMS Dr DM Thapa and the cardiology department is necessary.

Yesterday, KSU activists had also closed down the office chamber of the director as a mark of protest against the ongoing imbroglio in the institute which has also led to the passing away of a 55-year-old lady recently and demanded for his immediate removal.

When asked, the health minister said eight months ago, he along with the chief minister Conrad K Sangma had made the same request (removal of director) before the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda during a meeting in New Delhi.

“On the same day, the union health minister had given a clear direction to the secretary of the ministry to instruct the director to go for a long leave,” Hek said adding the request was made after seeing many problems arises ever since he joined the institute.

Hek however said the incumbent director is still continuing in the post because he got ‘shelter’ from the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC).

“He is continuing because he went to Commission as he is from scheduled caste so he got stay and shelter from Commission,” he added.

Whether the government hold the director solely responsible for the present mess in the institute, the health minister however said, “Until and unless we get full report of the inquiry we cannot say that and it is not right as it has to be based on facts…of course we are pursuing for his removal but it depends on the central government to take a call on the matter.”

“That is why the inquiry committee is expected to go indepth on the matter. We cannot have one sided inquiry, we have to ensure inquiry is on both the director and cardiology department,” he said.

On the death of the patient, Hek informed that the government is still seeking a report and it is expected to be submitted within this week.

Reaction to allegations that the government is sleeping over the issue, he said, “I told you 8 months back we have been pressurising to resolve this internal problem of the institute. It is very wrong on the part of anybody who is saying that the government is sleeping.”

He also maintained that the government will not allow the institute to play politics at the cost of the patients’ precious lives.

By Our Reporter