Mokokchung, March 6 (MExN): The Ao Students' Conference (AKM) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Department of Health & Family Welfare, Nagaland, demanding urgent redressal of the ongoing specialist shortage at Imkongliba Memorial District Hospital (IMDH), Mokokchung.
The ultimatum comes after the department allegedly failed to respond satisfactorily to a representation submitted by the AKM on January 31.
In a statement, the AKM expressed discontentment over the acute shortage of medical specialists at IMDH, particularly in the departments of Obstetrics & Gynaecology (Obs & Gynae) and Anaesthesia.
According to AKM’s findings, the hospital currently has only one anaesthetist, responsible for all elective and emergency surgeries in Orthopaedics and Gynaecology.
The situation is further strained as the junior doctor is entitled to days off following emergency duties, leading to the suspension of surgeries during those periods, it highlighted.
Similarly, the Gynaecology Department is functioning with only one senior gynaecologist, who, despite being on call 24x7, struggles to manage the overwhelming caseload, it added.
The AKM highlighted that in the absence of the lone gynaecologist, complicated and operative cases are referred to other hospitals, causing financial and emotional distress to patients and their families.
It underscored the gravity of the situation by revealing the following caseload at IMDH’s Obs & Gynae Department from April 2024 to February 2025.
As per the AKM figures, during the period, there were 3,958 OPD (Outpatient Department) and 890 indoor cases.
A total of 303 major surgeries (OT) and 398 minor surgeries (OT) were also performed, while the total deliveries (including Caesarean sections) stood at 645.
Thus stating the hospital’s inability to function effectively contradicts Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) for a 150-bedded district hospital, the AKM criticised the department for the recent transfer of medical specialists without ensuring timely replacements.
Accordingly, it served the ultimatum demanding the appointment of a second anaesthetist to ensure uninterrupted surgeries and critical operations.
It also demanded the deployment of at least one more gynaecologist to share the workload and prevent unnecessary patient referrals.
The AKM also called for strict adherence to IPHS guidelines for staffing IMDH and the immediate replacement of the outgoing doctor from TB Hospital to IMDH.
The student body cautioned that failure to meet these demands within seven days would compel them to take stronger measures, including mass agitation.
The AKM would “reciprocate befittingly” to the department’s “adamant attitude” to safeguard the rightful healthcare entitlements of the public, it asserted.
