Union demands better facilities at Nongstoin Civil Hospital
From Our Correspondent
NONGSTOIN: The KSU Nongstoin Circle has issued a 20-day deadline to the State Government to improve facilities and appoint doctors at the Nongstoin Civil Hospital which has been lying in a state of neglect for long.
The KSU ultimatum came after it was found, through an RTI application filed by the Union, that the
posts of Medical Specialist, Senior Medical & Health Officers, Medical & Health Officers and laboratory technicians have been lying vacant.
10 posts of medical specialists – Physician, Surgeon, Gynecologist, Pediatrician, Anesthetist, Orthopedic Surgeon, Psychiatrist, ENT Specialist, Eye Specialist and Dermatologist have been sanctioned out of which only one ENT specialist Dr K Kharumnuid has been appointed.
The RTI findings also revealed that only Dr (Mrs) T Dohtdong has been appointed as a senior medical officer while three posts are lying vacant.
Five posts of Medical & Health Officers are also lying vacant.
Also, the post of a Radiologist remains unfilled till date. Following the RTI findings, the KSU Nongstoin Circle called for a general executive committee meeting at Nongstoin on Tuesday where it was decided to give a 20-day deadline to the State Government to fill up the vacant posts and improve the Nongstoin Civil Hospital.
It may be mentioned that the 100-bedded Hospital was inaugurated on August 12, 2010 by Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma in presence of a horde of dignitaries.
During the inauguration, the Chief Minister had promised that the hospital would soon function as a full-fledged District Hospital with all types of latest amenities.
Deputy Chief Minister and in charge Health, Rowell Lyngdoh, had also expressed hope that the 100-bedded hospital would serve the people of West Khasi Hills district and will ease the problems faced by patients, who can avail the same facilities available elsewhere, in their own district.
But despite tall claims made by the Government, nothing has been done so far to alleviate the sufferings of the patients, the KSU lamented.
The Union also warned of severe repercussions if the State Government failed to initiate any action in this regard within the given deadline.
Meanwhile, a local resident, on condition of anonymity, said that since the Government in power is in the habit of politicking every issue in the State, the Nongstoin Civil Hospital issue might serve as an important poll agenda for contestants vying for the Nongstoin Assembly seat during the ensuring Assembly election in 2013.
