Imphal, Jun 19: Lack of adequate health care facilities for the State security forces has not only resulted in frequent cases of sickness absenteeism thereby affecting their performance, but has also hurt the morale of the medical and other paramedical staff working under the State Home Department.

Talking to The Sangai Express, on condition of anonymity, a Medical Officer (MO) working in the State Force Battalion Headquarters at Imphal pointed out that procuring weaponry, ammunition and vehicles in the name of police modernisation would not strengthen the State forces without paying attention to the improvement of the condition of the existing Unit Hospital and Medical Investigation Rooms, which are really pathetic.

The MO observed that in an organisation having 100 staff even if five persons cannot attend office due to sickness, it is considered to be the height of sickness absenteeism and this is more so specially in the establishment of the security forces.

However, in the Unit Hospital where he is posted, cases of 10 percent of the staff/personnel staying away from duty due to sickness is very common, the MO said, while asserting that this is a glaring example of lack of health care facilities.

Even though past incidents of shooting and clashes among the security personnel and attack on the senior officers by their subordinates have been usually attributed to mental health problem, intoxication and alcoholism, is an underlining point which says that there is the need to improve the health care facilities for the security forces, the MO maintained.

Enumerating on the difficulties being faced by the medical and paramedical staff in the unit hospitals of the security forces, the MO said in Central Forces, there is promotion line but in State forces, they are stuck up to the post without any prospect for promotion in the future.

The same is also true for the nurses (male and females), nursing assistants and pharmacists, he added.

Even the uniform are no issued to the doctors, the rued, adding that the doctors are merely there to conduct Breathalyser test on drunkards rounded up by the police.

Sometimes the paramedical staff were used in combat, but as there is no ambulance, they have to hired private vehicles for the purpose, the doctor added.

Here too, the doctor further pointed out that though they might be putting up far away from the site of the actual clashes, deployment of the paramedical staff without giving any proper training is akin to violation of their human rights.

Apart from Manipur Police Training School, the other medical units attached to the State Forces Battalions do not have the necessary infrastructures.

Over and above, lack of life saving equipment like oxygen, ECG, Ambubag (apparatus for providing Oxygen to the patients, ambulance, the condition of the buildings is also pathetic, the MO noted.

The MO disclosed since his posting at the Unit in 2002, he had never come across any supplier supplying medicines to the unit.

Along with improving the existing health care system, it would be beneficial to introduce telemedicine devices if the Govt really intend to modernise and improve the strength of the State forces, he added.

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