2 Anaesthesiologist, 1 Plastic Surgeon suspended for failure to report to Jiribam District Hospital

Guwahati: Taking action against three senior doctors for dereliction of duties, the Manipur health department has suspended them immediately for allegedly failing to report to their assigned duties at Jiribam District Hospital.

Calling out their action as "disobeying government orders and failure to report for duty” as reported by the Telegraph, the government ordered them to remain at their respective headquarters in Imphal and prohibited them from leaving without government permission.

The suspended doctors include Dr Feiga Luckson Gangmei (specialist in anaesthesia), Dr Oinam Bisu Singh (specialist in anaesthesia) and Dr Laishram Oken Singh (specialist in plastic surgery).

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An order issued by the Joint Secretary of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Manipur Dr Yumnam Suraj on June 13 mentioned that the three doctors were suspended for dereliction of duties and disciplinary proceedings were contemplated against them under sub-rule (1) of Rule 10 of the Central Civil Services Rule 1965. Their headquarters would be in Imphal and directed not to leave the headquarters without prior permission of the authority concerned.

According to the Imphal Free Press, the Director of Health Services, Dr O Sanahanbi ordered four doctors and three staff nurses to be stationed at CHC Jiribam due to the prevailing law and order situation in the district on June 8. Unfortunately, only one of the four doctors reported for duty, resulting in the suspension of the remaining three doctors.

Following the absence of the three doctors, Dr Sanahanbi issued another order on June 11, directing them to report for duty by June 12. He strongly cautioned of serious actions if they did not adhere to the instructions. However, the three doctors failed to do so and the government suspended them accordingly.

Speaking to The Telegraph, an official said, “The suspension order was issued because they did not pay heed to the government order. Given the prevailing volatile situation in the district, the need for doctors/specialist doctors has only grown."

“There was also immense pressure from NGOs and civil society organisations on the government from before to look into the dearth of doctors in both the district hospital and CHCs. People find it difficult to travel to Imphal owing to the security issues triggered by the ongoing ethnic conflict,” he added.

The Jiribam district hospital in Manipur is currently facing mounting pressure due to the significant number of displaced people who are in need of medical attention as nearly 100 houses belonging to different communities were destroyed in a fire on June 6 following which nearly 1,000 individuals from the Meitei community residing in villages such as Lamtaikhunou, Madhupur, Loukoipung, and others within the Borobekra subdivision have sought refuge in seven shelter camps located in Jiribam town.

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