Ao Senden has rejected the reply of the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare (DHFW) to its ultimatum over the shortage of a radiodiagnosis specialist at Imkongliba Memorial District Hospital (IMDH), Mokokchung, and announced that it would take its own course of action from October 21.

In a letter addressed to the Principal Director of DHFW, Nagaland, through the Chief Medical Officer, Mokokchung, Ao Senden stated that it rejected “in toto” the reasons provided by the department in its letter dated October 15, 2026.

The organisation said that, under a notification dated August 19, 2026, a senior specialist radiologist at IMDH had been transferred to Naga Hospital Authority Kohima (NHAK), while a junior specialist radiologist from District Hospital Phek was transferred to IMDH.

Ao Senden stated that it had requested the department not to release the senior specialist until his replacement joined IMDH. However, the specialist was released following a directive from DHFW dated September 7, 2026, it said.

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The Senden clarified that the appointment of a Sonologist was not part of its demand and insisted that only a specialist in radiodiagnosis would be acceptable at IMDH.

It further claimed that none of the demands included in its ultimatum dated September 16 had been met. Criticising the department’s response, Ao Senden alleged that it had adopted an attitude of superiority instead of prioritising service to patients in need of healthcare.

It said the situation contradicted the purpose of establishing the health department, which it maintained should be to provide essential medical services to the public.

Ao Senden warned that it would pursue its own course of action from October 21 and held the department responsible for any untoward incident that might occur during the course of its action.