FKJGP demands Govt to immediately address deficiencies in Shillong civil hospital

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJanuary 14, 2025

The Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP) on Tuesday demanded the state government to address the several deficiencies in the Shillong civil hospital that are affecting the people, especially those coming from poor family background, who are depending treatment in this institute.

After meeting the medical superintendent following complaints received from the public on the matter, FKJGP president Dundee C Khongsit said it is a matter of great concern to know about the different deficiencies faced by the civil hospital.

“Accessibility to better health care is the right of every citizen of the state. Therefore, we urge the government to give the health sector as its top priority because poor health care facilities are affecting the poor people of the state, who totally rely on these government institutions. We also demand the government to immediately take measures to address these deficiencies for the interest and welfare of the citizens of the state,” Khongsit told reporters.

The FKJGP president informed that during the meeting, the medical superintendent (MS) had told the delegation that the hospital authority had already taken up with the government in regards to the non-operational of the MRI machine since 2018. However, till today no action has been taken to make it operational.

“From her statement, we can imagine if such important machines are not there in a civil hospital located in the state capital, what kind of health services do we expect them to give in rural areas of the state,” he said.

He also said that the MS had informed that after the pathologist was transferred to Ganesh Das hospital, there has been no step taken to appoint a replacement in the civil hospital and that is why a pathology test could not be done there.

“The MS also cited shortage of staff as the reason behind the hospital’s failure to address the daily complaints that people dropped in the complaint box,” he added.