The Ao Senden has rejected the latest reply of the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Nagaland, setting October 31 as the deadline for the fulfilment of its demands and warning of further escalation of its ongoing agitation.
In a letter dated October 23 addressed to the Principal Director of the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare, Ao Senden questioned why the department had directed the release of Dr Tseizo Keretsu, Senior Specialist in Radiodiagnosis at Dr Imkongliba Memorial District Hospital (IMDH), Mokokchung, for his transfer to Naga Hospital Authority Kohima (NHAK), but had not issued a similar directive to facilitate the release of Dr Weto Lomi from District Hospital Phek to IMDH.
The organisation referred to the government notification dated August 19, 2026, which ordered Dr Keretsu’s transfer to NHAK and Dr Lomi’s posting to IMDH. It maintained that it was seeking only the implementation of the notification and reiterated that “nothing short of a Radiologist will be acceptable at IMDH Mokokchung”.
Ao Senden also reiterated its demand for doctors and nurses attached to other institutions to be detached and reverted to IMDH, referring to its September 16 ultimatum.
The list enclosed with its latest letter names nine personnel: Dr Rouvinuo Thenud, Junior Specialist attached to Medical College, Kohima; Dr Lanuyanger, Medical Officer (AYUSH) attached to District Hospital, Dimapur; Tongpangkokla Ozukum, Nursing Tutor attached to CON, Dimapur; Latongrenla, Staff Nurse attached to Akito PHC under CMO Dimapur; Nungsangnungla, Staff Nurse attached to District Hospital, Dimapur; Chubayangla, Staff Nurse attached to CON, IMDH Mokokchung; Christina Litsase, Staff Nurse attached to Pungro CHC under CMO Kiphire; Keneihouvinuo Miachieo, Nursing Tutor attached to the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare, Kohima; and Imntirenla L Pongen, Staff Nurse attached to CON, IMDH Mokokchung.
The organisation further insisted that services be shifted to the newly constructed Block A of IMDH, making the hospital’s relocation another of its outstanding demands.
Describing the department’s inaction as a challenge to the organisation, Ao Senden stated that it was “willing and ever ready” to escalate its agitation. It called on the department to meet all its demands by October 31, warning that the agitation would continue until they were fulfilled, with the possibility of further escalation if no action was taken.
The latest development comes as Ao Senden continues its indefinite lockdown of the Chief Medical Officer’s (CMO) office in Mokokchung, which began on October 21. The organisation has maintained that the action would continue until its demands concerning staffing and infrastructure at IMDH are addressed.
The dispute centres on the availability of specialist services at IMDH, the return of staff attached to other institutions, and the delayed shifting of hospital services to Block A.
The Health and Family Welfare Department had earlier cited staffing requirements at NHAK in explaining the transfer of the senior radiologist, while stating that a trained sonologist had been earmarked for IMDH. Ao Senden has maintained that a sonologist does not meet its demand for a specialist radiologist.
The department’s latest position on the demands could not be independently established from the documents available at the time of writing.