Mon, September 15 (MExN): Civil society organisations (CSOs) of Aboi under the aegis of Aboi Area Forum censured the Department of Health and Family Welfare for reinstating the license of a ‘medical practitioner’ accused of medical malpractice.
According to a press release from the forum’s media cell on Wednesday, the licensee—one Chingmei Phom, had allegedly ‘misdiagnosed’ and prescribed medication to a patient who visited Phom’s clinic on July 1. Following this, the patient’s condition deteriorated and the patient was reportedly taken to Mon District Hospital on July 5, where the attending doctor confirmed the misdiagnosis.
Subsequently, on July 7, the forum, upon learning the news of the incident, wrote a joint letter to Additional Deputy Commissioner Aboi for verification of the illegal medicine seller/practitioner at Aboi Town. “Later, the matter was forwarded to Directorate of Health & Family Welfare through the Chief Medical officer, Mon, to which, the Department verified his documents and issued a Cancellation Order of his drug license on 27th July 2021 vide Order No.DHFW-13/DC/COMPT/32(B)2019-19/4351-55. In the order, the department has directed to surrender the original drug license to Senior Medical Officer, Community Health Centre Aboi and to dispose off the medicines in his possession to a licensed Pharmacy as per required Rule 66-A,” the release stated.
However, the release stated that on August 24, the same department had issued another revocation order, allowing Chingmei to run the pharmacy again without proper consultation with NGOs and medical establishment of Mon District. Stating that the Department had neither called for any consultative meeting nor informed about the revocation order, the forum questioned how such a step could be taken up against the wishes and consent of Aboi after knowing that the licensee had violated the provision of Act & Rules of Drug & Cosmetic 1940 & 1945 and endangered human lives.
“We demand to know who was the person behind the revocation of the cancelation order. The department should come out clean on this matter and initiate immediate response to our call, before any unwanted situation arises,” the forum demanded.
In this regard, it also appealed to the Nagaland Medical Council and Konyak Doctors’ Association to understand the sentiment of the public and address this serious issue as to how such manipulation could take place even after the drug license was cancelled. “The department had clearly mentioned in the meeting with the culprit that Chingmei doesn’t qualify to even sit as salesman in any Medical Store; yet, the same person went forward to open his medicine store on September 9, 2021,” it claimed.
Further, the forum urges the Department to look into the matter of Community Health Centre, Aboi, stating that for years, the concerned department had totally ignored the hues and cries of Aboi public seeking for appointment of manpower such as Doctors, Nurses and other additional staff at CHC Aboi which is the only Health Centre after District Hospital Mon District in the district.
Stating that the CSOs of Aboi exist to serve the best interest of the public and to bring injustice to light, the forum asserted that matters relating to public health are of utmost priority, and it would not allow any individual or department to endanger the lives of its citizens.
