HG Robert Hospital staff stage protest

FROM A REPORTER

SHILLONG, July 25: Around 150 staffs excluding nurses and doctors of Dr. HG Robert Hospital Shillong on Monday marched towards the KJP Assembly office at Mission Compound demanding the removal of Dr. David Tariang Medical Superintendent (MS) of the hospital for the numerous anomalies within the hospital.

Speaking to newsmen senior staff of the hospital said, “Dr David has been working at the Hospital for the past 10 years and in the last 36 years I have worked in this hospital this is the first time I have witnessed that the hospital is in crises.”

The hospital staffs were adamant to get clarification from Rev. NS Phawa Senior administrative Secretary KJP Assembly in-charge Dr. HG Robert Hospital on their demands.

In this connection Rev. E R Kharkrang informed the agitating staffs that Phawa is unwell and will not be able to meet them, however later Phawa through a telephonic conversation with a senior staff told him that they can meet him on 27th of this month at 11.30AM to get proper clarification on the matter.

Kharkrang had earlier informed that a special committee had been constituted on 30 July and any clarification sought by the staff the committee will answer.

The senior staff said that she is surprised that the hospital is still able to pay salary towards its staff despite the fact that the Medical Superintendent had revealed that the hospital has no more funds. Informing that there are no medicines in the hospital, she said, “Due to this most of the patients that comes to the hospital has to be referred to other hospital in the city.”

She alleges that there was on incident where even x-ray plates had to be taken from civil hospital.

“I want to request the Assemble to take appropriate action before a point comes when the hospital has to be closed down,” she said.

Stating that there are many intern doctors in the hospital she allege that before intern doctors were not allowed to prescribe medicine for the patients but since most of the senior doctors have resigned these intern doctors are allowed to prescribe medicine.

Another staff of the hospital alleges that for the past one year the hospital has not been able to pay the outstanding dues to private companies for purchase of medicine amounting to crores of rupees.

Expressing similar views, Ryngkat Sing Kharkongor said, “We want the MS to be removed from his post as we have no more confidence in him since his style of functioning is like a dictator and for example if any committee is constituted he is the one who selects the members and he is the one to dissolve the committee without even discussing it with anyone.”

He added, “There are no medicine in the hospital for patients and because of this most patients comes to the hospital in the morning and in the evening they leave because there are no medicine.”

He informed that the staff had already sent three letters in the past to the KJP synod Assembly demanding the removal of the MS.

“In the past us staff we use to receive free treatment at the hospital but now since David was appointed as the Medicil Superintendent (MS) right from various test and medicine we have to pay at half price,” he said.