NEIGRIHMS director seek PM’s intervention

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaOctober 23, 2019

SHILLONG: The Director of North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health & Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) Dr DM Thapa has sought the intervention of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for instituting an independent probe into the decision of the Governing Council (GC) to remove him.

In his letter submitted to Modi on Wednesday, Dr Thapa said, “I was asked to resign without any opportunity being given to be heard during the 13^th GC meeting. Reasons for seeking my resignation in the “secretive note” were not made known to me. No enquiry was done on the charges and director was not allowed to find out the reasons from each GC members which is unfair to a person of integrity and honesty.”

“Since, I belonged to Schedule Caste, had to pursue my case in National Commission of Schedule Caste from October, 2018. Surprisingly, the case was closed just before the 13^th GC meeting on October 14, without completion of scheduled hearings smacks of something wrong at the level of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MOHFW). An independent probe in this episode will satisfy me,” he said.

He said 20 Directors have joined the institute and none was allowed to complete their full tenure due to a lobby working in Meghalaya and other lobby in MoHFW adding “This damages the credibility of this institute. It appears that there is no concern for this institute and its demand for creation of posts is being delayed.”

He said though Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan along with AIIMS Director, PGIMER Director and DG, ICMR were in favour of granting full autonomy to this institute, was not supported by members from the North East especially Meghalaya during 13^th GC meeting. “Director will come and go, but institute should grow that is my prayer. My heart bleeds for its growth,” Dr Thapa said in the letter.

Dr Thapa also requested the prime minister to direct for Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe into the nexus between Sanjo pharmacy and Cardiology department.

He said the stents and pacemaker consignment from a private vendor (Sanjo pharmacy) to Cath lab, Cardiology Department headed by Dr Animesh Mishra was seized on April 30.

“Vigilance enquiry report after clarification was sent to CVO, MOHFW and Central Vigilance Commission on September 3. No action was taken against the culprit Dr A Mishra, HoD Cardiology. Rather Dr Thapa, director in 13^th GC meeting…was asked to resign without reasons explained to him,” he said.