Two doctors of Jongksha CHC were on leave as per due official process: DHS
Absence of doctors
Shillong, Sept 27: The Directorate of Health Services has condemned an incident of closure of a hospital at Jongksha, East Khasi Hills district by the public and claimed there has been no negligence on the part of doctors in attending their duties.
The local people had closed Jongksha Community Health Centre (CHC) in protest against absence of doctors on September 21 and prevented medics from performing their duty.
“Closure of the hospital will affect the people requiring urgent medical attention,” said Dr FV Kharshiing, director of Health Services (MI) on Thursday.
Condemning the incident, the DHS said, “Medicines especially injections, need to be kept in deep freezers and examined from time to time, morning and night. Closure of the CHC or any other health centres is a great loss to the residents’ especially to those who need medical care”.
According to her, the doctors had taken leave as per the due official process.
“One doctor had taken leave earlier and another doctor took leave due to health reasons. Both have informed the district authorities before taking the leave and it was accordingly granted to them after arrangement was made with a doctor from East Jaintia Hills and who was presently stationed in Pynursla,” he said.
However, the doctor from Pynursla, who was supposed to come on 20 September, came to Jongksha CHC a day later on 21 September due to unavoidable circumstances related to family issue, the official said, adding that she had also informed the DMHO office about the delay.
“However, it is sad that the shutting down of the CHC has prevented her from executing her duty,” Dr Kharshiing said.
Meanwhile, the CHC was not without any doctor on that day.
There was an AYUSH doctor and also a tele-consultation to assist the doctor and health workers at the CHC, she pointed out.
Besides, the DM&HO had on 20 September sent a doctor from Mawiong to assist the AYUSH doctor at the CHC but it was sad that the doctor was not allowed to even enter the health centre.
