Imphal, October 30: Apart from the irregularity of the doctors on duties at the Maternity and Gynaecology Wards of JN Hospital at Porompat, the private ward of the hospital had been shut down for the last 2 years as the septic tanks of the toilets were filled up.

This came to light during an inspection tour of the hospital conducted by Ethno-Heritage Council (HERICOUN) along with media-persons today.

The tour was organised in view of the mounting difficulties being faced by people who come for treatment at the hospital run by the State Government.

None of the five Gynaecologists and four medical officers (MO) posted at the Maternity and Gynaecology Ward of the hospital were present when the inspection team visited.

The inspection team learnt that 'there is no doctor, we cannot treat the patients' is one common refrain that the patients and their family members have been hearing from the on-duty nurses of the ward most of the time.

Two patients have also reportedly expired as three doctors who were on the night duty roster did not turn up at the Casualty ward of the Hospital on Oct 22.The inspection team also learnt that the 24-room private ward of the hospital has been remaining shut downed for more than two years now as the septic tanks of the toilets have been filled up.

Interestingly, few of the septic tanks have been reportedly found missing when efforts were taken up for repairing of the same.

There is also very likely that there might be some empty septic tanks as the outlet pipes from some of the blocks of the hospital could not reach them.

According to a reliable source, for repairing the septic tanks, a sum of Rs 2 crores had been released last year while another Rs 1 crores this year over and above Rs 22 lakhs for electricfication work alone.

The CT Scan machine of the Hospital has also been reportedly lying out of order for the last two years.

Of the two machines of Ultrasonography and X-Ray, one has also not been functioning any more.

Despite the sorry state of affairs that the inspection team have witnessed, Medical Superintendent of the Hospital Dr Motilal went on length on the developmental works being taken while interacting with the media-persons.

He said the total strength of the staff in the 190-bedded hospital had gone down from 80 to only 56 following the rationalisation policy of the Government.

But with appointment of four new staff recently, the total number of staff at the hospital has increased to 60 now.

Dr Motilal informed that the recently inaugurated Acci dent and Trauma Centre would have its Intensive Care Units (ICUs) and only fitting of the air-condition is left now.

The construction of 3 new Operation Theatres (OTs) have also been over with exception to fitting of the lighting system and other minor equipments, he added.

While disclosing that three officials from the Centre had come to inspect the developmental works being taken up at the Hospital 4-5 days back, the Medical Superintendent said before leaving the Central officials have given their assurances of looking after the needs of the hospital including separate arrangement for providing safe drinking water and infra-structural requirements like MRI, CT Scan, etc.

Over and above this, efforts are also being made to set up Electro-Convertive Therapy Centre one each for male and female patients suffering from mental problems, Dr Motilal said, adding that a newly set up NeoNatal ICU has also started functioning.

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