Jiri hospital crippled, says DESAM

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jan 18: Claiming that Jiribam Hospital at Ningshingkhul seems to be existing only in name, the Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) has urged Chief Minister N Biren Singh, who also holds the portfolio of Health, to look into the matter at the earliest.
According to a press release issued by the student body, its volunteers led by secretary general, Leishangthem Lamyanba inspected Jiribam Hospital today and came across many shortcomings which require immediate intervention from the Government to ensure better healthcare facilities reach the people of Jiribam.
Most of the wards of the hospital are closed all the time except for casualty and emergency service, pointed out  DESAM and added that the hospital also lacks technicians, specialists and even instruments and kits to function properly.
There is also no facility for the patient's parties in nearby areas to buy medicines.
DESAM observed that the Deputy Medical Superintendent (DMS) of the hospital is unpunctual and even now he is on leave, alleged the statement and maintained that the MO who was assigned by the  DMS to look after the hospital doesn't even know the name of the staff and doctors posted there.
He also refused to give the list of staff posted at Jiribam Hospital to the volunteers, said DESAM.
On inquiring about the closure of many wards, the MO casually responded that it is due to the closure of OPD as a preventive measure for the pandemic, it charged. Though the State Cabinet has approved to upgrade Jiribam Hospital to a district hospital, many doctors there are still getting salary without being at the workplace regularly, the student body claimed.
Continuing that operation in the hospital has also stopped due to lack of doctors and logistics, the student body stated that people of Jiribam sarcastically dub Jiribam Hospital as 'Refer Hospital' for referring patients to other healthcare facilities frequently.
The condition of the road leading to Jiribam Hospital is also very bad, pointed out DESAM.
On apprising about the conditions of Jiribam Hospital, CMO Jiribam, Dr E Okendro Singh responded that he is aware of the unpunctuality of the staff and doctors posted there (Jiribam Hospital), but they (staff and doctors) never forget to sign the attendance register, maintained the student body and demanded the State Government and authority concerned to take befitting action against the erring CMO at the earliest.
Saying that the CMO also shielded the unpunctual doctors on the excuse of Covid pandemic, DESAM asserted that they have evidence of all their claims.
Although the CMO had on December 8 last year complained to even the Health Director about the conditions at Jiribam Hospital, no tangible actions have been taken up so far to address the issue, the student body said.
Despite appeals, Jiribam Hospital still has no blood bank, added DESAM.
Saying that the rate of patients admitting to the hospital has also reduced considerably due to inadequacy in the hospital, the statement urged the Chief Minister to look into the matter at the earliest.