Source: The Sangai Express
Tamenglong, November 16 2008:
Health Minister Pheiroijam Parijat Singh has asked the people of Tamenglong district to choose a site of their choice as the State Government is ready to construct a new hospital in the district.
The Minister conveyed the message to the people during an inspection tour select a site for the proposed hospital along with Tamenglong Assembly Constituency MLA Khangthuanang Pamei.
The inspection team surveyed two possible sites in the district headquarters one of which is at Duigailong and the other near the Power House.
Interacting with the general public as well as personnel of the existing district hospital, he informed them to select one of the two sites surveyed today.
Inspite of conceding that decision of the people would be taken into account with regard to the site selection, parijat nevertheless mooted that the spot near the Power house would be more suitable as the location is close to the district headquarters.
The spot inspection is said to have been conducted for constructing a new hospital with a capacity of 50 beds.
Parijat also disclosed that out of the estimated cost of Rs 14 crore for the new hospital an amount of Rs 4 crore has already been sanctioned and construction work would begin as soon as the spot is finalised.
Apart from the spot selection visit, the Minister along with the local legislator inspected existing facilities of the old hospital with the hospital staff and general public pointing out infrastructural inadequacies such as lack of medical kits which consequently handicaps doctors from dispensing their duties diligently.
lack of essential kits/equipment in the District Hospital reduces availability or posting of specialists as a mere formality, voiced the people while expressing keen desire that doctors and other staff hailing from the district be posted at the district hospital.
With regard to preferring local medical personnel, the people contended that non-locals are irregular in terms of attendance at their work place.
In response the Minister assured provision of requisite medical equipment within three years and pledged that necessary measures would be taken up to post local medical practitioners and personnel.
Deputy Commissioner (Tamenglong) Devesh Deval and officials of Health Department also accompanied the Minister during the inspection tour.
Meanwhile, sources revealed that out of six doctors posted at the district hospital five are females in addition to three out of six staying at Imphal most of the time.