Editor,
Apropos the news item “CM for probe into fire service lapse”(ST Nov 19, 2019) one wishes that the state Chief Minister ordered an immediate probe into what appears to be the lapse in the Fire Service response time during the Church of God fire incident, instead of waiting for a report first as stated in the news report . The probe which perhaps could be of short time frame because of what appears to be not a very complex matter will particularly look into the reason for lack of response to many telephone calls made to the service station then as this could happen again unless corrected. It is also hoped that accountability if established thereafter will be followed with appropriate punishment to avoid recurrence of such lapse in future .
As reported , the Fire Service officials revealed that the fire tenders cannot approach the place of the fire because of narrow roads. Narrow roads are there in most of the localities in Shillong and if the state Fire Services by now have not been able to procure specially designed fire tenders to manoeuvre through these narrow roads then there is every likelihood that many other buildings in Shillong or elsewhere will meet the same fate as that of the church. Time perhaps to explore the possibility of having such specially designed fire tenders in addition to the standard ones. .
As usual, lack of man power, shortage of machinery and equipments or having more of outdated ones is the excuse heard when there are shortcomings in dealing with any disaster that takes place anywhere. It would not be expected however that those in charge of Fire Service stations at the state capital itself will have the same excuse as this will certainly put at risk many buildings of the government, of major institutions, of huge business complexes and of the thousands of private buildings mostly tightly spaced to fire disasters of unmanageable magnitude. The situation in the other district headquarters could be worse . It does require perhaps for the Government to remedy the deficiency at the fire service stations and the sooner the better.
The incident will also be a wake- up call perhaps for the Government to call for an inventory of all big buildings especially those with wooden structures in Shillong and in other parts of the state to confirm if fire safety regulations are strictly followed in such buildings . Fire service is perhaps not only to douse the flames but to also ensure that preventive measures are in place .
Another problem which the fire services officials stated is that roadside parking of vehicles obstructing the movement of the fire tenders. Indeed, such roadside parking on narrow roads which is prevalent in many localities in Shillong nowadays hinder movements of vehicles on all occasions. It seems vehicles owners who have no private parking space, park their vehicles on public roads instead and this includes house tenants with vehicles if house owners do not provide parking facilities.
Availability of parking space should be made mandatory for registration of vehicles in Shillong or everywhere with a system to ensure adherence to this .Such a criteria will help reduction of roadside parking while reducing the rising number of vehicles in Shillong which is one of the reasons of traffic jams . The Durbar Shnongs could be part of the system to certify parking space availability before registration . One also hopes that these Durbars are not too afraid of hurting sentiments by continuing to allow roadside parking within their localities while overlooking the adverse consequences.
The Church of God fire incident is a lesson well learnt. Hope it will lead to significant and sustained efforts on the part of all authorities concerned to take concrete steps in order to prevent more of such incidents in future .To be complacent after the dismay over the church incident ends can lead to lamentation again and again later.
Yours etc.,
K L Tariang,
Via email
True inside story at NEIGRIHMS
Editor,
Apropos the letter to the editor captioned, “NEIGRIHMS: The inside story” (ST Nov 2, 2019) it is true that NEIGRIHMS is not an “Institute of National Importance” as per recent communication from MoHFW in relation to seeking pay parity with AIIMS, New Delhi in 2018 and 2019. But as per gazette notification in 2008, NEIGRIHMS is the only medical institute to be declared as “Centre of Excellence”. However, no additional benefits are being given as a result of this.
The recruitment rules for Deputy Director (Admn) were changed before 2017 and the post was downgraded vis-à-vis DDA post. The post of DDA was advertised on August 28, 2019. In the mean time in contravention to the procedure, DDA was granted further extension by MoHFW on October 14, 2019, even though post is already advertised.
The Director is a victim of exposé of nexus between private vendor, just outside NEIGRIHMS and HoD Cardiology, busted on April 2019 when items worth Rs 30 lakh (stents and pacemakers) were confiscated by Vigilance Officer. HoD Cardiology along with his DM students held the system to ransom and stopped working for days together at the cost of patient lives, so as to get the confiscated items released. Now AMRIT pharmacy has become primary supplier of the same after May 3, 2019. Who is getting benefited? Director or the patients? Why was the same initiative resisted by HOD Cardiology before May 2019? How many patients have been infected with HIV, Hepatitis B and C by re-use of one time disposable catheters, sheaths, balloons, and guide wire etc., in Cath lab for cardiac procedures in Cardiology Department. Moreover these patients were billed as if new items have been used.
It appears some officials in MoHFW are trying to run a parallel administration through Deputy Director (Admn.) by by-passing Director. Main question is “What is in the interest of public? A corruption free NEIGRIHMS or corruption ridden NEIGRIHMS”. Even if we do not take into account the failures of earlier Administration to establish standard operating procedures (SOPs) for procurement for major consumables. It is relevant to note that all attempts to establish SOPs for such procurements like stents, pacemakers, grafts and implants have been resisted by the user department. While MoH&FW is blaming the present Director for lack of progress in the Institute under his stewardship but facts prove otherwise. Some officials in the Ministry are obviously misguided by the same lobby who don’t want Director to interfere in their multi-crore business.
As claimed before, Director has never issued any circular for stopping non-vegetarian food in all eateries in NEIGRIHMS? Please ask the concerned person to release that circular in the media. Occasional checks need to be done to remove anomalies and to provide affordable healthcare to the public, checkmate the malpractice and corruption in the hospital. Protocols for counselling need to be developed. Personnel opinion cannot be thrust on poor patients. Patients’ complaints need to be taken note of and investigated in full. The department concerned should help in the conduct of vigilance enquiries. Government enlisted pharmacies such AMRIT pharmacy to be promoted as per MoHFW advisory in the interest of people of Northeast. If the above had been followed, the seizure of stents and pacemakers from Sanjo pharmacy to the tune of Rs 30 lakh would not have happened. On Vigilance Awareness Week, we want to give this message to the public: Don’t pay bribes to the hospital staff. “Whistle blowers need to be protected”, whether he is a common man or director of an institute. Let the patient’s faith on the doctors in this “temple of healing” not be shaken. NEIGRIHMS needs to be cleaned from unethical practices by few, who are maligning the image of the institute for their personal gains.
Yours etc.,
Dr. D M Thappa
Director, NEIGRIHMS