The United Sangtam Students’ Conference (USSC) has expressed dissatisfaction with the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare’s response regarding the deployment of medical personnel and facilities under the Longkhim-Chare area, stating that the justification provided by the department is “highly unsatisfactory.”

In a rejoinder addressed to the Principal Director of Health and Family Welfare, the USSC reiterated its demand that all five Primary Health Centres (PHCs) under Longkhim and Chare, along with the Community Health Centre (CHC) at Longkhim, be staffed to their full sanctioned strength and equipped with adequate medical facilities.

The Conference maintained that merely ensuring the availability of staff nurses does not address the severe shortage of Specialist Medical Officers (SMOs) and Medical Officers (MOs), which continues to hamper healthcare delivery in the region.

The USSC also expressed concern over the transfer of doctors from the Longkhim-Chare area without immediate replacements being posted. It questioned the department’s explanation that vacant posts of SMO and MO would be filled only after departmental promotions and recruitment through the Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC) are completed.

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Calling the delay unacceptable, the Conference asked why existing doctors were transferred before ensuring relievers were available, stating that public healthcare and the lives of citizens cannot be subjected to prolonged administrative processes.

“If the recruitment and promotion processes are still under process, on what basis and justification did the Department transfer our existing doctors without ensuring immediate replacements?” it questioned.

Reaffirming its earlier charter of demands, the USSC declared that it would neither halt nor suspend its ongoing agitation until its demands are fulfilled and the required medical officers are physically posted to the affected healthcare centres.

The Conference further alleged that the Department’s failure to provide adequate healthcare personnel amounts to a violation of citizens’ fundamental rights under the Constitution. It warned that the department would be held responsible for any untoward incident arising from the alleged negligence and stated that it may be compelled to pursue legal action if the matter remains unresolved.