The Manipur High Court closed the Public Interest Litigations (PIL) filed on the issue of the availability of Doctors and staff in the District hospitals of the states.
One PIL was filed by two office-bearers of a Civil organization, named United Women Organization, Tamenglong, on the ground that a sufficient number of Specialist Doctors and staff were not available at Tamenglong District Hospital.
They sought directions to the State authorities to provide the necessary manpower at Tamenglong District Hospital.
The second PIL was filed by the Tribal Knowledge Foundation, Senapati, seeking direction to the State authorities to immediately take steps for filling up the vacancies in sanctioned posts in the District Hospital at Senapati.
While the third PIL was filed by a resident of Churachandpur District seeking direction from the State authorities to provide an adequate number of Specialist Doctors and staff at the District Hospital, Churachandpur.
Additional Affidavit dated 24.08.2022 was filed by the Deputy secretary (Health & Family Welfare), Government of Manipur, in response to the direction of the High Court to file a comprehensive affidavit indicating the steps taken by the authorities to fill up vacancies in various District Hospitals across the State.Therein, the Deputy Secretary stated that the State Government was making efforts to improve the health facilities in the outlying areas of the State, including Senapati, Chandel, Ukhrul, Tamenglong, and Churachandpur. Details were furnished of the upgradation of the bed capacities of the District Hospitals at Tamenglong, Senapati, Ukhrul, and Churachandpur. It was further stated that Trauma Centres at the district Hospitals at Churachandpur, Senapati, Chandel, Thoubal, and Bishnupur had been completed and inaugurated and ambulance services are also being provided at these District Hospitals. Details thereof were also furnished.
It was further stated that the Health Department was taking steps to rationalize the posting of Doctors and Specialists in the District and Sub-DistrictHospitals. As regards the availability of Specialists for deployment, it was stated that a temporary shortage was caused due to a large number of MHS Doctors being sent on deputation as Senior Residents to RIMS, Imphal, and JNIMS, Imphal. SeniorResidentship was the requirement to apply for the posts of Assistant Professor inMedical Colleges and, therefore, many MHS Doctors with PG qualification were stated to have opted for such tenures in these two Hospitals at Imphal with the hope of career progression.
It was stated that 91 MHS Doctors were on such deputation and steps were being taken to recall them after completion of three years. It was further stated that 126 MHS Doctors were undergoing post-graduate studies or were enrolled in Super Specialist courses and that they would become assets to the Department after they acquired those degrees.
Requisition was stated to have been sent to the Manipur Public Service Commission for recruitment of 300Medical Officers to the Manipur Health Services. This recruitment process was stated to be underway. Vacant posts in MHS Grade-III were proposed to be filled up by way of direct recruitment as well as through promotion. Attendance of staff at District Hospitals was proposed to be monitored through the use of biometrics.
Having received this additional affidavit, M. Rakesh, counsel, now states that the grievances of the petitioners in these three cases have been addressed to a great extent and it is for the State Government to follow through with the process so as to ensure that medical facilities at these three district Hospitals are augmented and maintained to the satisfaction of all concerned.
Recording the said statement and affirming it with full vigor, the Division Bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Kumar and Justice MV Muralidaran deems it appropriate to close these cases for the present. It shall be open to the petitioners to approach the High Court once again in the event any further cause of action arises or still persists , the Court said.