Editor,
As Tura Civil Hospital embarks on its new journey and the doctors and staff adhere to the strict administrative rules given by the authority, certain comments and views aired by the public need serious consideration so as arrive at a mutually beneficial goal. Tura Civil Hospital is the only Government Hospital in the entire Garo Hills with diagnostic facilities like X-ray, Sonography etc., and patients have the benefit of consulting concerned doctors based on their ailment. Many specialist doctors are appointed in this Hospital and operation facilities are also available. Indeed the importance of this hospital cannot be overestimated. However as per case reports it is learnt that this public hospital is functioning like a private hospital since December 2015.
Patients are made to pay for admission, blood test, X-ray, sonography etc. and even surgery charges. The charges under different heads are displayed in the main notice board of the hospital with the seal of Tura Civil Hospital Management Society. As per reports patients with Smart Card Health Insurance are exempted from payment but not all the people of Garo Hills are beneficiaries of the same and hence are liable to pay the charges as decided by the Hospital Management Society. Not only are the weaker sections of the society affected by this drastic change, but the working class have also to undergo the burden of payment as it ranges from a few hundred to several thousand rupees. Patients have recounted spending something like Rs 40,000 – 50,000 for purchase of utilities ordered from Guwahati by doctors, citing its non-availability in the local supply chain. Some recollects ordeals like having to sell their land or a cow for simple ailments like Malaria and Typhoid simply because all the medicines have to be purchased and blood tests conducted at nearby laboratories, and the expenses for the same are high.
Sources at the hospital have justified such payments since there is no supply of medicines and reagents from the government. However, one fails to understand why the public is made to pay, due to the failure of the Government to supply the necessities to the only Government referral hospital in the entire Garo Hills. Why are the NGO’s of Garo Hills not demanding enough health facilities/ medicines if such lacunae persist as stated by hospital sources? Why is there no increase in number of beds? Many patients are turned back due to absence of empty beds at the hospital. Shockingly, even the Mortuary Van posted at the hospital does not offer subsidised rate for transportation of the deceased, and this could be the ultimate harassment for the relatives. It is also learnt that many times the only mortuary van available becomes defunct and remains unrepaired for months on end, thus causing inconvenience to the patients’ relatives. There are anomalies galore at present in the hospital and issues remain unresolved, so the brunt falls on the poor sections of society who cannot avail treatment at private hospitals. It is time the Government takes corrective measures and people of Garo Hills demand the right to affordable health care. In an era, when our Prime Minister has emphasised time and again on free health care, why are we lagging behind? And the irony is that we have a Chief Minister who is a medical doctor himself!
Yours etc.,
Joshua Sangma,
Tura
Govt guilty of environmental destruction
Editor,
Apropos the news item regarding the threat to the Root Bridge located at Nongriat in view of the construction of the PWD road from Tyrna to Nongthymmai village ( ST June 29, 2016), I would like to state that there are similar constructions undertaken by the government elsewhere which are disastrous to the environment and have serious negative impacts on tourism. The examples are (a) the construction of PWD road from Lad Mawphlang towards Wah Umiam Mawphlang which has destroyed the David Scott Trail (b) construction of parking space for the elite parents of Pine Mount School children thereby reducing the size of the famous Lady Hydari Park (c) destroying the Rose Garden opposite the Lady Hydari Park for expanding the official quarters of Dr Donkupar Roy, Leader of opposition (d) construction of residential houses of Forest Department at the Malki-Lumparing forest where not less than 20 full grown trees are destroyed with an aim to destroy the catchment areas. These are the examples where the ecology and places of tourist importance are being slaughtered mercilessly at the whims and fancies of the rich and the famous. I would therefore urge upon those who are in the legal circles to file PILs against these shameful acts committed by ruthless and unscrupulous individuals.
Yours etc.,
B Lyngdoh,
Shillong-2