Shillong: Taking strong exception to the news item appearing in this paper on Jan 14, regarding closure of the Out Patient Department (OPD) of NEIGRIHMS on the occasion of Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi, Director, NEIGRIHMS, Dr. AG Ahangar termed the news item as mischievous and with a potentially communal tinge.
“January 13 was a holiday as per Central government list of holidays. Similarly on the occasion of Muharram last year, a report about closure of the NEIGRIHMS OPD was reported by your paper. NEIGRIHMS remains closed during Christmas, Diwali and Durga Puja as well, so why does your paper not report about this?” Dr. Ahangar questioned.
When told that the matter was brought to the attention of the newspaper by several patients who waited for doctors to attend on them, Dr. Ahangar countered, “Aren’t there patients waiting outside for OPD services during other religious festivals as well?”
Stating that he has tried to put NEIGRIHMS on the medical map of the country and beyond, Dr. Ahangar said he has given his best to the Institute and tried to serve the people of the State and region to the best of his ability but regretted that this was not appreciated and that attempts were made to malign the image of NEIGRIHMS.
“The medical fraternity of NEIGRIHMS work 24x7x365 to provide patient care services, academics and job opportunities to the people of this State and region. Instead of appreciating the excellent services rendered by the Institute, some vested interests are working overtime to tarnish the image of the Institution,” Dr. Ahangar remarked.
Meanwhile, when patients were asked what their grouse was in reporting about the closure of OPD services on January 13, they said that it was because they did not know that it was a holiday and had come from Jaintia Hills and other distant villages for OPD services.
“If we had known beforehand that NEIGRIHMS remains closed on all government holidays we would not have come,” a patient from Jowai said, adding that the list of holidays and information that the Institute is closed on those days should be kept at the OPD for the information of the public.
Other medical officers of NEIGRIHMS, however, said that it was unnecessary for the Director to take umbrage at the news item or to consider it as a personal affront since there will always be an element of dissatisfaction from some patients.
“We should learn to take such news items in our stride,” they said, adding that ‘it comes with the territory’.