CM assures to invite MMSA for talks after doctors announced to go for 24hrs cease work over IIPH issue

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJune 27, 2022

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday assured to immediately call the Meghalaya Medical Services Association (MMSA) for talks after the latter had decided to stage a 24-hour cease work as a mark of protest over the government’s inaction against the IIPH authority.

“We will talk to them (MMSA) and we will resolve the matter in the larger interest of public service,” Conrad Sangma told reporters.

The chief minister said he is aware of the issue and has also spoken to Health Minister James K Sangma about it. “It is an important issue because public services are involved in it and we will resolve the matter,” he further assured.

Doctors under the banner of the MMSA have decided to go for a 24-hour cease work on Tuesday after the government has failed to heed their demands for setting up an inquiry and take appropriate action against the Registrar and Director of Indian Institute of Public Health (IIPH) for falsely portraying the Director of Health Services (MI) Dr Aman War in poor light in the media.

The decision was taken at an emergent meeting of state executive committee of MMSA held on Monday.

“As there is no immediate response from the government the state executive committee of MMSA, in an emergent meeting held this morning, has decided to go ahead with the first phase of the agitation ie 24 hours cease work with effect from 9 am of June 28 to 9 am of June 29,” MMSA general secretary Dr R Pohsnem said in a letter to the Secretary in-charge Health and Family Welfare informing about the decision taken by the association.

The association had also expressed shock at the alleged decision of the Principal Secretary in-charge Health and Family Welfare, Sampath Kumar to take sides with the IIPH instead of hearing the DHS (MI) side of the story into the May 27-incident at the old NIFT building at Pasteur Hills, Lawmali.

Further, the MMSA in its letter to the health minister on June 1, had also expressed shock and surprise as to how the Principal Secretary Health & Family Welfare Government of Meghalaya is taking sides with IIPH, Shillong campus, which is a non-governmental institution instead of safeguarding the DHS (MI) who is the controlling officer of the Public Health Institutions in the state of Meghalaya without giving him a chance to present his side of the story, not to mention the way the Registrar of IIPH, Shillong campus, had humiliated the Project Director and Deputy Director of MACS.

“This is demotivating and demoralizing for all medical doctors which in the long run will affect the smooth delivery of health care services in the state,” the MMSA wrote.