UD Hospital SOS

 Global pandemic exposes cracks in healthcare system of Ukhrul

(Ukl in dire need of Healthcare requisite : CMO) 

Addie Chiphang

UKHRUL, May 12,021:  UKHRUL District Hospital(UDH) the secondary referral level, responsible for the district to provide comprehensive health care services to the people in the district at an acceptable and sensitive to the needs of people and centres is unable to deliver the services it means to be. 

In an independent investigation made by this journalist today on the ground reality  of problems and difficulties face by the UDH it was found/learn that due to lack of doctors in the district hospital, many patients’ lives have been claimed because of having to travel 84 kilometers to reach the capital of the state, Imphal. 

While talking with the CMO of Ukhrul District Hospital Dr. Kapangring A. Shimray said that seven(7) doctors from UDH were transferred last year and six(6) doctors are supposed to be posted an join at UDH on April 12 last but they are yet to give their joining report till today. The same have been officially acknowledged to the director and we are expecting positively, he said. 

The negligence of the Public Health Care System by the state government must come to an end. We believe that this is a critical issue that needs to be addressed with urgency at this crucial time of COVID-19 pandemic, and that the state government must take responsibility to immediately improve the Ukhrul District Hospital, opions Albert Shaiza a social worker. 

What we need the most at present includes specialists in Anesthesia, Sinologists, Orthopedics, blood Bank, surgeon etc but amongst this we immediately required Anesthesia as without it our UDH ICU will be helpless and many untold incident may befall in days to come said one doctor who refused to take his name. 

It is pertinent to mentioned that shortage of doctors, nurses, medical equipment and facilities have failed the Ukhrul District Hospital to function as a reliable public health care system and such negligence from the part of the state government has caused various deaths, whether directly and indirectly. 

The Ukhrul District Hospital is currently a 50-bedded hospital with a capacity to expand 100 beds which is still underway say only 75 percent was completed which also clearly reflects the negligence of the authority as the rooms expansion lays untouched as of now.  Yet, even with the 50 bedded capacity, it is a shame how the state government has always kept the hospital short of medical equipment and health personnel, it stated.

UDH is supposed to house 30 doctors at the least (21 Specialist doctors, 9 Medical Officers), the Ukhrul District Hospital has just 15 doctors, i.e. 8 Medical officers and just 7 Specialist doctors.

The current 50 bedded hospital should be fully staffed with 30 doctors; 21 Specialist Doctors, 9 Medical Officers. This will not only improve the healthcare system but will also be convenient for the citizens of Ukhrul, where they can get treated in the town itself without having to travel long distances spending thousands and thousands, a front line worker adds. 

It stated that the absence of a basic wing such as a Blood Bank clearly shows the negligence of the state department. For name sake, ECG and Ultrasound equipment are installed but with no one to man the machines, it added.

There have been uncountable cases where patients have died while on the way because the District Hospital had no medical personnel and/or equipment to treat the patient.