SHILLONG: The NEIGRIHMS resident doctors’ association has suspended its strike after the state government assured the association that it will take up their problems, including the demand for the removal of director DM Thappa, with the Health and Family Welfare Ministry.
The association kicked off its strike on Thursday. As many as 29 departments of the institute took part in it. But in the evening, the agitating doctors were called for a meeting by Health and Family Welfare Minister AL Hek.
Speaking to media persons after the meeting, Hek said the association has suspended its strike after the government’s assurance. He also informed that the issues of the resident doctors were taken up with Union Health Minister JP Nadda earlier and now they will follow it up more aggressively.
“So many doctors are resigning from the institute which is not a good sign,” he said, adding that the government appealed for withdrawal of the strike because it would have affected many people.
“I again appeal to all to desist from strike or shutdown in NEIGRIHMS in the interest of the patients,” a statement from the minister said.
Later, president of the association Dr Synrang Batngen Warjri confirmed that they have suspended the strike. He also made it clear that the association called off the strike after the intervention of the state government and the administration of NEIGRIHMS had not even called them for discussion.
Earlier, Warjri lamented that faculties from different departments are resigning and the institute is already facing shortage of faculty and the resignations are taking place due to the administrative letdown. He added that some of the faculty members in different departments are being forcefully removed by the director of the institute due to unknown reasons.
Warjri lamented that memos are being issued to several residents with a purpose to harass them and the situation is such in NEIGRIHMS that many patients are being referred to other hospitals in the city.
Making it clear that they want removal of the director, he said arrears of the doctors are pending since January 2016 and quarter allotment of many residents has been cancelled.
Earlier, KSU also voiced its concern following the strike called by the NEIGRIHMS resident doctors’ association.
Another statement issued by the hospital administration said patient care services and academic activities went on smoothly on Thursday like any other working day.
The situation was reviewed in a meeting chaired by Vandana Raphael, the director in-charge, with the participation of the dean, medical superintendent, warden and all the heads of departments (HoDs).
The HODs were requested to advice the resident doctors in their respective departments to ensure that patient care services are not affected. The attendance of resident doctors in majority of the departments was good, the statement said.
“The institute’s authorities express gratitude for the proactive approach of the faculty, resident doctors, nursing and other professional staff etc, in ensuring patient care services,” it read.
