Radiologist posting and delayed shift to new hospital block remain at the centre of the standoff
The Ao Senden has resolved to continue its indefinite lockdown of the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) office in Mokokchung, stating that its demands concerning staffing and infrastructure at Dr Imkongliba Memorial District Hospital (IMDH) remain unmet despite a fresh transfer and posting order issued by the Department of Health and Family Welfare on Wednesday.
The lockdown began on the morning of October 21, with members of Ao Senden, Mokokchung Town Lanur Telongjem and the Ao Students’ Conference (Ao Kaketshir Mungdang, AKM) stationed at the CMO office gate.
Ao Senden had rejected the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare’s response dated October 17 to an ultimatum issued earlier, maintaining that the department had failed to address its demands.
These include the posting of a replacement radiologist and a dermatologist at IMDH, shifting hospital services to the newly constructed Block A, and reverting doctors and nurses attached to other offices to their original postings within 30 days.
Dispute over radiologist posting
The dispute over specialist staffing centres on the transfer of a senior radiologist from IMDH to Naga Hospital Authority Kohima (NHAK) without a replacement being in place, according to Ao Senden.
In its response, the directorate stated that the transfer was necessitated by a staffing shortage at NHAK following the promotion of a senior radiologist there. A trained sonologist had been earmarked for IMDH.
However, Ao Senden cited a notification dated August 19 showing that the senior specialist radiologist had been transferred from IMDH to NHAK, while a junior specialist was posted to IMDH from Phek. The organisation also stated that the senior doctor had been released despite its request that the doctor remain at IMDH until a replacement joined.
Ao Senden maintained that a sonologist could not substitute for a specialist radiologist to meet the hospital’s radiodiagnostic requirements.
Speaking to Mokokchung Times (MT), Principal Director of Health and Family Welfare Dr Keveduyi Theyo said four radiologists were posted across NHAK Kohima, Phek District Hospital and the Nagaland Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (NIMSR), with two at NHAK and one each at Phek and NIMSR. He added that the state had an additional contractual radiologist under the National Health Mission (NHM).
Dr Theyo said radiologists were required at hospitals equipped with CT and MRI facilities, explaining that trained sonologists could perform ultrasound examinations but could not undertake CT-related work. He said NHAK served patients from across the state and required radiologists because it had both CT and MRI facilities.
Asked why a radiologist had been posted at IMDH in the first place, Dr Theyo said the doctor had been stationed there around seven years ago and had continued performing ultrasound examinations. He added that specialists needed opportunities to keep abreast of developments in their fields and maintain their professional skills.
Later on Wednesday, the department issued a fresh transfer and posting notification under which four doctors were reportedly retained at IMDH following promotions. However, Ao Senden maintained that the order had not fulfilled its demands and resolved to continue the lockdown.
Dr Theyo told MT that the department was constrained by the shortage of radiologists and indicated that it might have to recall the radiologist posted in Phek, while also accounting for the need to train doctors.
Block A shift remains pending
The shifting of hospital services to the newly constructed Block A is another major point of contention.
The directorate had informed Ao Senden that instructions for shifting services had been issued, with construction work reported to be complete. However, Dr Theyo told MT that the hospital could not shift services because the new building lacked an emergency ramp, which was not included in the project’s Detailed Project Report (DPR).
IMDH Medical Superintendent Dr Alemwapang Aier had similarly told journalists that additional work was needed before the shift could take place. He said constructing the ramp would take around 15 days and expressed hope that services could be shifted by November 15.
A committee comprising civil society organizations in Mokokchung had also been constituted to oversee the shifting process, Dr Aier said.
In a letter dated October 14, the directorate informed the medical superintendent of IMDH that additional requirements, including temporary ramps and furniture, were not covered under the ongoing project and could be funded through the hospital’s decentralised funds.
The hospital requires around Rs 40 lakh for an emergency ramp, nursing station and other basic facilities in Block A. The estimate excludes a fire-safety system and oxygen supply lines. The hospital is exploring corporate social responsibility (CSR) support and other funding avenues to meet the additional costs.
The objective of the Block A was to increase IMDH’s capacity from 150 to 250 beds.
Currently, IMDH is functioning with around 100 beds amid the ongoing construction and caters to an average of approximately 300 outpatients daily, nearly half of whom come from neighboring districts. Medical Superintendent Dr Alemwapang Aier has expressed optimism that the shift to Block A would improve healthcare services for patients.
With Ao Senden maintaining that its demands remain unmet and deciding to continue the lockdown despite the latest transfer and posting order, the dispute over specialist staffing and the shifting of services to Block A remains unresolved.
