Meghalaya HC directs Govt to look into exodus medical personnel from NEIGRIHMS

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaSeptember 9, 2022

The Meghalaya High Court on Friday asked the state government to look into the reasons for the alarming level of attrition at the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health & Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS).

In its order passed after hearing a PIL, the two-member bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice W Diengdoh said, “It is necessary for the State to look into the reasons for the alarming level of attrition at NEIGRIHMS and take remedial measures so that the institution survives not only in its brick and mortar but also in its intended service.”

It said the ASG has sought leave to intervene and submits that the principal medical facility in the State, NEIGRIHMS is seeing an exodus of medical personnel to the recently established All India Institutes of Medical Sciences, including at Guwahati.

Some reasons are indicated as to why Shillong may not be an attractive long-term proposition.

However, it is inconceivable that the doctors are getting better pay at other institutes since the pay and benefits would be almost the same in all comparable institutes, the bench said.

A report was also filed through the Secretary in the Health and Family Welfare Department.

The bench said though, the report speaks of several measures having been taken by the State in the recent past to improve the healthcare facilities, particularly at the grassroots level, a lot more needs to be done.

It said that Seventy five years after Independence and 50 years after the birth of the State, there is no medical college in the State nor is there any super speciality hospital for cancer patients, though the incidence of oral cancer in the State is about the highest in the country.

The petitioner seeks some time to study the report, since the report was made over to the petitioner only last evening.

“While it is appreciated that some steps have been taken by the State to augment the healthcare facilities and look into the needs of, particularly the persons in far-flung areas of the State, a lot more needs to be done,” the bench said.

The next hearing on the matter will be held on October 18.