NEIGRIHMS resident doctors allege harassment

Shillong: The resident doctors of NEIGRIHMS Cardiology department have threatened to strike work on account of what they term as ‘failure’ of the Director, Dr DM Thappa, to respond to their representation dated June 14 last where they had set a deadline of June 18 for the Institute to accept their examination fees and for onward submission to the North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU).
The resident doctors have alleged arbitrary use of administrative powers by the Director in refusing to accept their examination fees.
In a letter dated June 14, addressed to the Director (a copy of which is with The Shillong Times), the resident doctors said, ” It is felt that you have tried to sabotage the Doctorate of Medicine (MD) Cardiology Course and examination for your personal reasons. This has affected our mental status tremendously which in turn has affected the academics, research and patient care. We want to acquire our highest medical degree with honesty and integrity.”
The date for submitting the examination fees for final year MD students was June 18. The resident doctors in their letter dated June 14 had requested the Director to call them for a meeting to thrash out matters and also address their grievances, but there was no response from the Director, they said.
According to the resident doctors, the Director has proceeded on leave on June 18 without responding to their memorandum, thereby depriving them of their right to sit for their MD examination.
An aggrieved resident doctor said that the only alternative left for them is to appeal to the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and all the other unions of the Institute for justice.
It may be mentioned that the resident doctors (Cardiology) have been the backbone of the department and have taken on the burden of addressing the needs of the huge inflow of patients from the entire Northeastern states. If they strike work it is likely that the department will be seriously handicapped.
This correspondent spoke to Dr. Thappa to get his views on the matter. He says that the examination schedule is set by NEHU and the MD students have to comply with all the regulations of the University and fill up the necessary forms before getting their admit cards etc. Dr. Thappa also said it is the Head of Department, Cardiology who should be processing their application forms etc. NEIGRIHMS only has to clear the administrative process.
Whatever be the reasons for the stand-off between the resident doctors and the Director, the ultimate sufferers would be the huge number of patients who flock to the Cardiology Department of NEIGRIHMS which is one of the most sought after departments of the Institute.