The Ao Students’ Conference (AKM) today served a 7 days ultimatum to the Department of Health & Family Welfare (DH&FW) to address the acute shortage of medical practitioners at the Imkongliba Memorial District Hospital (IMDH). It urged the Department to fulfill its 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.
The Union expressed deep discontentment over the ongoing crisis at IMDH, Mokokchung where even after submitting a representation appealing the Department January 31, 2025 to redress the issues within 30 days, no satisfactory action has be’n initiated nor has the concerned department given any positive response.
“As per our findings, IMDH has an acute shortage of medical specialists, particularly in the departments of Obstetrics & Gynaecology (Obs & Gynae) and Anesthesia. Currently, IMDH has only one anaesthetist, who is responsible for all elective and emergency surgeries in Orthopaedics and Gynaecology. However, 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,” informed the AKM.
It also mentioned that 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,” stated the AKM.
To highlight the severity of the crisis, the AKM highlighted the number Obs & Gynae Department at IMDH handled the following cases from April 2024 to February 2025:
OPD Cases: 3,958
Indoor Cases: 890
Major Surgeries (OT): 303
Minor Surgeries (OT): 398
Total Deliveries (including C-sections): 645
“These numbers clearly justify the urgent need for additional specialists in both Anaesthesia and Gynaecology. 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),” stressed the Union.
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Under its ultimatum, the AKM put forward the following demands:
- 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.
- Immediate replacement of the outgoing doctor from TB Hospital to IMDH.
“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,” cautioned the AKM.
