Attrition Alarm at NEIGRIHMS: HC asks Govt to Investigate Reasons why doctors are fleeing from Institute

Shillong: Expressing concern over the alarming level of attrition at North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS), the High Court of Meghalaya has recently directed the State to address the issue and take required measures as a remedy.

"Some reasons were indicated as to why Shillong may not be an attractive long-term proposition. However, it is inconceivable that the doctors are getting better pay at other institutes since the pay and benefits would be almost the same in all comparable institutes," noted the HC bench comprising of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice W Diengdoh.

The Court's observations were made while it was considering a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in relation to the suo motu cognizance indicating deficiencies in the State Health facilities in Meghalaya.

During the hearing of the case, the Additional Solicitor General of India informed the Court that doctors and medical personnel from the principal medical facility of Meghalaya, NEIGRIHMS were fleeing to the recently constituted All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), including at Guwahati

The bench further noted, "It is necessary for the State to look into the reasons for the alarming level of attrition at NEIGRIHMS and take remedial measures so that the institution survives not only in its brick and mortar but also in its intended service."

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As per the latest media report by The Shillong Times, during the case proceedings, the State Secretary for the Health and Family Welfare Department submitted a report to the Court on September 8. In this report, the State referred to the measures it had previously taken for improving the healthcare facilities and especially at the grassroots level. 

Taking note of the same, the Court appreciated the measures that the State has taken in this regard and especially the initiatives taken for the persons in the far-flung areas. However, the court also observed that even though the report refers to several measures, a lot still needs to be done.

"Seventy-five years after Independence and 50 years after the birth of the state, there is no medical college in the state nor is there any super-speciality hospital for cancer patients, though the incidence of oral cancer in the state is about the highest in the country," noted the court.

Meanwhile the petitioner prayed for some time to study the report, which the petitioner could access only on Thursday evening.

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