NEIGRIHMS Administration Vs HoD Cardiology: HC intervenes, directs to Start scheduled Cardiac surgeries

Shillong: With the feud between the administration and HoD Cardiology of North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) reaching new heights, the Meghalaya High Court has intervened in the matter and directed the concerned parties to to sort out a working formula and start scheduled cardiac surgeries from May 9th.

PTI reports that acting on a PIL, a division bench of the High Court headed by Chief Justice M Y Mir said, "The medical superintendent shall hold a meeting with the Cardiology department and immediately work out a solution so that right from tomorrow surgeries as per schedule are carried out."

Medical Dialogues had recently reported that the standoff came into highlight when On May 1, the services of the Head of Department, Cardiology of the medical institute was been shut down due to the latter’s alleged non-cooperation with the administration in regard to make treatment of poor cardiology patients affordable.

Read Also: Crisis at NEIGRIHMS as HOD Cardiology, Hospital Administration come In Standoff

The NEIGRIHMS director had alleged that the Cardiology department head has not been co-operating with the administration with regard to making treatment of poor cardiology patients affordable as per orders of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

He said two complaints were received from the PMO regarding the high price of heart stents availed from local vendors instead of the AMRIT pharmacy at the institute.

Last week, authorities at the institute had also seized various cardiology stents, worth over Rs 20 lakh, from a vendor in the premises of the hospital. The stents were allegedly sold at a higher rate than the capped rate fixed by the ministry at Rs 30,000.

The Cardiology department head, however, denied the allegations and claimed that the Amrit pharmacy had indicated at the non-availability of stents.

"I am open to inquiry both internal and external. We have not violated any norms," Dr Mishra had said.

Since last week, no surgeries have been conducted by the Cardiology department.

Read Also: Govt intervenes to sort NEIGRIHMS Cardiology faculty, Administration STANDOFF

Now, when the matter reached HC, the bench passed the order stating, "We are persuaded to direct both the director as well as the head of the Cardiology department to work out a working formula so that patient care may not suffer."

The "trust deficit" has resulted in stalling of important surgeries for varied reasons, the order added.

The bench also directed Meghalaya Chief Secretary P S Thangkhiew to depute the additional chief secretary to head a meeting at the medical institute in which the NEIGRIHMS director, Cardiology department head Dr Animesh Mishra, medical superintendent and a representative from the Union Health Ministry shall also participate and a report be submitted to the court.