Government of Meghalaya seeks thorough probe into NEIGRIHMS row

STAFF CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG: The Government of Meghalaya had already demanded the removal of Dr DM Thappa as the director of the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) as long as eight months back. The demand for his removal was jointly made by the State Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and Minister in-charge of Health and Family Welfare Alexander L Hek before the Union Minister of Health JP Nanda. The disclosure was made by the State Minister of Health and Family welfare AL Hek in his interaction with newsmen here on Tuesday. “The Union Health Ministry has even told him to go for a long leave,” stated Hek, adding, “But, he continued in the position by approaching the SC/ST Commission.”

Meanwhile, a reliable source informed that the State Government has already dispatched a letter to the Union Health Ministry seeking a thorough inquiry into the NEIGRIHMS controversy.

Amidst the imbroglio that has hit the image of NEIGRIHMS; the State government has asked the Union Health Ministry to initiate an inquiry into the issue. The State Secretary of Health and Family Welfare Pravin Bakshi conducted an inquiry and the report reads, “The Government of India may urgently constitute a high-level inquiry committee of senior cardiology experts from institutes of repute from outside the State under the guidance of an expert senior official from the Ministry.”

Two people have already died in the cardiology ward due to “unwanted’ egoistic slugfest between the director and the head of the Cardiology department. The issue is related to the procurement of certain devices. The Meghalaya High Court has taken cognizance of the imbroglio.

The director of NEIGRIHMS was at the State Secretariat on Tuesday evening, meeting the Chief Secretary, the Additional Secretary and other officials. Nothing definite is known about the meeting. However, the director of NEIGRIHMS Dr DM Thappa told The Sentinel that the institute with all its 26 departments is functioning well except for an aberration in one department. “We have a clear mechanism to ensure the smooth functioning of the institute and all the flaws will be rectified,” Thappa stated after coming out from the more-than-an-hour meeting at the Chief Secretary’s chamber.

Also read: Meghalaya news