The Ao Students’ Conference (AKM) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Department of Health & Family Welfare, Nagaland, demanding urgent intervention to address the ongoing crisis at Imkongliba Memorial District Hospital (IMDH), Mokokchung. The student body expressed dissatisfaction over the department’s inaction despite submitting a representation on January 31, 2025, seeking redressal of the hospital’s issues within 30 days.
In an ‘ultimatum’ letter addressed to the Principal Director of the Health Department, the AKM highlighted the acute shortage of medical specialists in the hospital, particularly in the departments of Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Anaesthesia. According to the AKM, IMDH currently has only one anaesthetist responsible for all elective and emergency surgeries in Orthopaedics and Gynaecology. However, being a junior doctor with mandatory rest following emergency duties, the hospital is left without anaesthesia support on her days off, leading to the suspension of crucial surgeries.
“As a junior doctor, she is assigned emergency duties and is entitled to a day off after emergency duty. This means that on her days off, no elective or emergency surgeries can be conducted, severely affecting critical patient care. The absence of a second anaesthetist is a major hindrance to the hospital’s ability to function efficiently,” AKM stated.
AKM stated that the Gynaecology Department faces similar constraints, with only one senior gynaecologist managing an overwhelming caseload. The lack of additional support has resulted in complicated cases being referred out of the district, causing financial and emotional strain on patients, the AKM added.
“The Gynaecology Department at IMDH is functioning with only one senior gynaecologist, who, despite being available on call 24×7, cannot single-handedly manage the overwhelming caseload.
The current scenario at IMDH means that if the only gynaecologist is on leave, complicated and operative cases are referred out, forcing patients to seek treatment elsewhere at great financial and emotional expense,” the AKM stated.
Highlighting the severity of the crisis, AKM said that, from April 2024 to February 2025, the department handled 3,958 outpatient cases, 890 inpatient cases, 303 major surgeries, 398 minor surgeries, and 645 deliveries, including caesareans. These figures, according to AKM, underline the urgent need for additional specialists in both Anaesthesia and Gynaecology.
The student body has placed four key demands before the department:
Immediate appointment of a second anaesthetist to ensure that surgeries and critical operations are not affected;
Deployment of at least one more gynaecologist to share the heavy workload and prevent unnecessary referrals;
Strict adherence to IPHS guidelines in staffing IMDH to prevent further deterioration of healthcare services;
and Immediate replacement of the outgoing doctor from TB Hospital to IMDH.
The AKM stated that, despite multiple appeals to the Department of Health & Family Welfare, Nagaland, the manpower crisis at IMDH remains unaddressed.
“The recent transfer of medical specialists without timely replacements has worsened the situation, making it difficult for IMDH to function as a 150-bedded district hospital as per Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS),” the AKM stated.
Warning of stronger measures, including mass agitation, if their demands are not met within seven days, the AKM asserted that the neglect of IMDH’s staffing crisis is depriving the public of essential healthcare services.
“The AKM is forced to issue this ultimatum to the concerned department to fulfill these genuine demands for the welfare of the general public within 7 days failing which the AKM will be compelled to take stronger measures including mass agitation and will reciprocate befittingly to the adamant attitude of the department and the government officials to ensure that the rightful healthcare entitlements of the people are met,” the statement from Vice-President Onenpong and General Secretary Satemmongba read.
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