Public confidence low in state health system

Morung Express News
Dimapur | October 22  

Nearly 91% of the participants who took part in a recent The Morung Express Poll are of the opinion that Nagaland state’s public health system is ill-prepared to respond to public health emergencies.  

Not assured about its ability, they felt that the Nagaland government is “very lucky because so far it has not really been tested by any major emergencies.”  

The poll conducted last week asked the readers: Do you feel assured that Nagaland state’s public health system is prepared to respond to any public health emergencies? Why?  

Only 2% of the respondents were confident about the government’s ability, while an overwhelming 91% responded ‘No’. The remaining 7% who answered ‘OTHERS’ also felt “it may take a medical emergency to wake us all up from our slumber,” taking the total cumulatively to 98%.  

The majority of respondents were worried that “if a health emergency really happens we are all in for a very bad time.” “Although the medical staffs are qualified, the department lacks proper facilities like medicines and other equipments,” one opined.  

“I don’t blame the doctors because I believe majority of the doctors are trying and doing their best for the society. It’s the politicians and bureaucrats that control the system that is messing it up,” another reader chipped in.  

Others agreed that sacrifices made by some few committed individuals in the medical fraternity have made them “the guardian angels for the Departments.” A reader also pointed out the lack of “a policy and an action plan” by the government with the health department and the disaster management agency. “This year the number of dengue cases has gone up drastically but the response of the government continues to be callous,” the reader added.  

Others felt that not even free medicine to the deserving poor or free ambulance service or treatment or benefits under schemes or anything are provided. Despite tall promises made by the State Government on health facilities in the state, nothing worth praising the system are in place, they noted.  

“Look at the state of affairs at Naga Hospital, Kohima… It simply shows how serious the state is about health care system. Now, compare this to other far flung areas and we see it gets only worse,” another reader maintained.  

To that end, the readers suggested the health Department, the allied Departments like PHE,R&B, RDs, SSW, Power, SDM etc. and the public needs the “understanding and commitments on the improvement of the entire Public Health Care System in the State.”