The office of the Medical Superintendent at District Hospital Longleng Headquarters has been sealed due to the Medical Superintendent’s failure to report after placement.
The Phom Students’ Conference has long advocated for the appointment of a Medical Superintendent through numerous office memorandums, endorsed by the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare, Deputy Commissioner Longleng, and CMO Longleng. The official notification for the transfer and posting of Medical Doctors under the Health & Family Welfare Department was issued on 11th October 2023. Despite repeated appeals and applications, Dr. Ruokoliebi Khate (Orthopedics), Consultant at District Hospital Dimapur (PoP) has not assumed the responsibilities of Dr Zathung Lotha, the appointed Medical Superintendent of District Hospital Longleng.
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This lack of action has been deemed as a disregard for the welfare of the Phom Community, prompting a decision to seal the Medical Superintendent’s office until the matter is urgently addressed.
The District Hospital, already grappling with a shortage of manpower, is now facing severe challenges in delivering healthcare services, forcing residents to seek medical attention outside the district. The economically disadvantaged segments of the population, heavily reliant on government health infrastructure, are particularly affected as the hospital serves as a secondary referral facility for villages across Longleng District.
The competent authority has been directed to promptly address this grievance by March 4, 2024. The Phom Students’ Conference has issued a stern warning, indicating their readiness to escalate the matter, including the sealing of the Chief Medical Officer’s office in Longleng. Any loss of life resulting from the unresolved grievances will squarely be the responsibility of the health department.
N Dape Phom, President of the Phom Students’ Conference added that they deeply regret the inconvenience caused to the public due to the sealing of the Medical Superintendent’s office but emphasized that such drastic action was necessary to draw attention to the critical healthcare situation in Longleng District. They urged the concerned authorities to prioritize the appointment of a Medical Superintendent to ensure the coherent functioning of the District Hospital and the well-being of the community.
