By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Feb 24: The Meghalaya government has ruled out any delay in providing treatment to Shillong MP Ricky Andrew J. Syngkon at the Mawiong Community Health Centre (CHC).
The Voice of the People Party leader died recently after suffering a cardiac arrest.
Health Minister Wailadmiki Shylla said an inquiry was conducted into the incident by the District Medical and Health Officer and as per the findings, there was no refusal of care or delay in referral.
According to him, the 108 Emergency Call Centre received a call at 6:53 pm and an ambulance was immediately dispatched to Ratson Futsal Ground from Lawmali.
However, within five to seven minutes, the emergency service received another call informing that the patient had been already shifted to the CHC in a private vehicle. At around 7:15 pm, Syngkon was brought to the emergency room of Mawiong CHC after reportedly collapsing while playing futsal.
“On arrival, the patient was unconscious and unresponsive. Initial assessment revealed blood pressure not recordable, pulse not palpable. The patient was immediately attended to by the staff nurse on emergency duty, and the medical officer on call was intimated,” Shylla said.
He further stated that oxygen support was initiated promptly and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) administered.
“Despite these resuscitation efforts, the patient did not respond. In view of the critical condition and non-response to initial resuscitation, the patient party was informed of the need for immediate referral to a higher facility,” he said.
At around 7:20 pm, arrangements were made to transfer the patient. He was shifted with oxygen support in the Mawiong CHC ambulance and it reached Dr. H. Gordon Roberts Hospital at around 7:40 pm, where he was handed over to the emergency team.
“As per the medical report of Roberts Hospital, the patient’s vitals were not recordable on arrival and pupils were bilaterally fixed and dilated,” the minister said.
Shylla said that the inquiry confirmed that emergency assessment and basic life support measures were initiated promptly upon the patient’s arrival at Mawiong CHC.
“The staff present acted within the scope and capacity of a community health centre, including immediate examination, oxygen administration, initiation of CPR and timely referral to a higher facility. There is no finding of refusal of care or delay in referral at Mawiong CHC,” he said.
Stating that sudden medical emergencies such as cardiac arrest are time-critical and outcomes depend on multiple factors, including underlying health conditions and the immediacy of advanced life-saving intervention, Shylla, however, acknowledged the shortage of medical personnel in the state.
“Right now, we are in a tremendous shortage of doctors in our state. Nevertheless, there were actually four doctors posted at Mawiong CHC. But out of these four, two are on leave for higher studies, and one was transferred to Khliehriat CHC in May because of a medical condition. So, as you understand, there is only one doctor there,” he said.
The minister clarified that the lone medical officer was on duty from 9 am to 4 pm, attending to OPD cases, and was available on call thereafter.
“Whatever the nurse was doing, she was on call with the doctor, under the doctor’s guidance only,” he said.
On whether additional doctors would be deployed, Shylla said the government is working on strengthening manpower not only at Mawiong CHC but across the state.
“We have got the sanction from Finance (department) to recruit another 150 doctors on a contractual basis, so, we are conducting their recruitment very soon,” he stated.
Principal Secretary (Health) Sampath Kumar said as Mawiong CHC is close to the city, it has relatively low footfall and minimal inpatient admissions on many days. He noted that there had been discussions on utilising part of the CHC premises as a de-addiction centre due to underutilisation.
On delays in filling vacancies, Shylla said that while candidates participate in recruitment processes, many do not join after postings are issued. He said living conditions and workload could be the contributing factors.
“I won’t say that’s the whole thing, but that is one of the reasons,” he said.
He also stated that the department floated tenders for the construction and renovation of quarters of doctors and nurses to improve accommodation facilities.
Kumar said the establishment of Shillong Medical College and Hospital is expected to ease the shortage over time, with 50 additional doctors in the pipeline. Shylla added that the upcoming Tura Medical College is also expected to boost the number of doctors in the coming years.
