Union demands doctors at GH

ITANAGAR, Jul 6: The Galo Students’ Union (GSU) has demanded that the state government post sufficient doctors and medical specialists at the general hospital (GH) in West Siang HQ Aalo, saying there is acute shortage of doctors there after medical specialists were transferred to the Tomo Riba Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (TRIHMS) in Naharlagun.
“There are currently 13 doctors at the hospital, out of which five are general duty doctors, three homeopathic/AYUSH, four dental surgeons and one orthopedician, which does not even constitute half of the total requirement (of 34),” the union said in a memorandum to the health & family welfare minister.
It also informed that, while a general duty medical officer at the GH was working as medical superintendent, another was working as anaesthetist.
“The situation worsened with the transfer of the surgical specialist, ophthalmologist, child specialist and medicine specialist to the TRIHMS without any relievers,” the union said.
With its present strength, it is impossible for the hospital to deliver proper healthcare services, it said, and urged the minister to initiate steps to post the required doctors within a month.
The GSU further said the doctors who have been transferred from the GH should also be released immediately.