SHILLONG:
Meghalaya Medical Services Association (MMSA) has warned of initiating “necessary” steps if the government fails resolve the Director if Health Services (DHS) and Indian Institute of Public Health (IIPH) dispute.
In a letter to the Health and Family Welfare James K Sangma, the association urged the minister to initiate appropriate action against the registrar and director of Indian Institute of Public Health (IIPH) for alleged misportrayal of Director of Health Services (MI) Aman War in poor light.
“We have decided to earnestly urge you to consider immediate enquiry into the actions of the Registrar and Director of IIPH, Shillong campus for falsely portraying the DHS (MI) in poor light in the media, who was exercising and discharging his duties as officially vested upon, and take appropriate action,” said MMSA president Dr Y Phira, in the letter to Sangma.
Demanding removal of the IIPH, Shillong campus from the “already congested” office of the Deputy Director (Malaria). Phira said, “The MMSA has further decided that it will take necessary steps if the government fails to take immediate measures to resolve the matter.”
The association has also expressed shock at the alleged decision of the Principal Secretary in-charge Health and Family Welfare, Sampath Kumar to take sides with the IIPH instead of hearing the DHS (MI) side of the story into the May 27-incident at the old NIFT building at Pasteur Hills, Lawmali.
According to the association, the IIPH, Shillong campus, should be having their own office building by now as the memorandum of understanding (MoU) had been signed between the government and Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) way back in 2008. It also asked the government to revisit it.
Condemning the way, the visit of DHS (MI) to old NIFT building on May 27, is being played out in the media by the director and the registrar of IIPH, Shillong campus, and senior government official of the state, the association, in the letter, said, “The way the Registrar and Director of IIPH, Shillong campus, handled the matter by portraying the DHS (MI) in poor image and, that too in the media, has indeed affected the dignity and prestige of the members of the Meghalaya health services and this will rather disintegrate the health system than meeting the original mandate which IIPH, Shillong campus, is designed to deliver.”
Further, the MMSA also expressed shock how the Sampath sided with the IIPH, Shillong campus, which is a non-governmental institution, instead of safeguarding the DHS (MI). “This is demotivating and demoralizing for all medical doctors which in the long run will affect the smooth delivery of health care services in the state,” the letter read.