Some of those who voted YES had this to say:
• Yes. It’s a beginning. We can see that public health is improving. It is not the best, but it’s better that what it has been. • Yes, change is coming one step at a time.
Some of those who voted NO had this to say:
• No. Still a long way to go. By the way, where are all the free medical supplies which are meant to be distributed freely in Govt run health institutes ending up? I have never witnessed even a single bandage or syringe being given to the poor patients freely till to this day in Wokha District Hospital. Or is the government neglecting us?
• No. Where is even the provision?
• No. Most of the treatments in Nagaland are done on clinical observation. Wrong treatment, wrong medicines, unnecessary medication should be avoided. Professional ethics: (Negative sides) 1. More importance to private clinics 2. Nurses behaviours, especially in Government Hospitals. 3. Attention to the patients, based on status. (to be corrected)
• No. I don’t think the Nagaland government even has a policy on health care. • No. Insufficient medical kits, staffs too rude.
• No. All the money is looted by government department, hospitals are empty of medicine, doctors have their own private practice, and corruption is rampant.
• No. the employees in PHCs are rarely seen in station while the MO enjoys the Ambulance for his personal needs.
Some of those who voted OTHERS had this to say:
• Public health care is not available in Railway station, Bus station and other stations. Suggestion is to have emergency ambulance and doctor.
• Public health care in Nagaland is in shambles and we don't need to go beyond Kohima to prove it - none of the health facilities (NHAK included) are functioning optimally. The situation is worse in other districts. Poor infrastructure, mismanagement of human resource, non-functional or outdated equipments and machines, mis-utilization of an already contracted fund and haphazard non-strategic planning are major reasons resulting in inadequate services, quantity and quality wise. The problem is compounded by major gaps in basic infrastructure - for e.g. non-pliable roads causing accessibility issues; poor rural economy contributing to under-utilization of available services etc… The government really needs to wake up and put out a sound policy to address these endemic inefficiency issues. It will need to get some strategic planning done, reorganize the workforce, overhaul performance and outcome matrices, strengthen fiscal discipline, and resolve many chronic (mis)commitment issues. To make quality and affordable health care services available to the public, fundamental issues as highlighted above need to be addressed at the earliest. Once the core issues are ironed out issues like non-availability of drugs at delivery points (especially in primary health centres & Sub-centres), staff absenteeism and inadequate services will resolve automatically.
• It all boils down to structural problem or bureaucratic model of governance compounded by lack of professionalism n ethics by doctors in the department. This are specialised department which should be run by specialised rather than the bureaucrats who destroys the work ethics of doctors and are bounded by rule oriented policy of the colonial era. It is to be seen in light of this structure that such structures creates rent seeking and evaporates level playing field among the employees and to achieve efficiency and effectiveness.
• There are hardly any doctors and medical facilities in the State. Very few! Water system in the State is still primitive; therefore you have floods, water shortage, water borne sicknesses and drainage problems. Bad roads lead to air pollution, physical and mental stress. There are no traffic rules so, accidents are common. There is no proper health care system. Hardly, there are Naga private investors and business in health care or research. Folks, the people of Nagaland are blinded. It is a generational 'Curse'. I don't see Nagas ever advancing in modernity and civility in 50-100 years, or never! A request to those whose eyes are open and are concerned about good health care and a clean life. Leave this place and start a new life.
