HC notice to union, state secy over Meghalaya health services

The Meghalaya High Court today issued notices to the health authorities of the Centre and the state over the 'pathetic' health-care scenario provided by the hospitals here including the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS).
Acting Chief Justice S R Sen issued notices to the Union Health Secretary, the state Chief Secretary, Health Secretary, NEIGRIHMS Director and Director of state Health Services asking them why proper order would not be passed against them.
The court has also appointed senior counsel T T Diengdoh and A Sinha as amicus curiae to assist the court while fixing the next hearing on the matter on February 9.

The High Court had taken up sou-motu cognizance on the deficiency in health services in the state after a joint petition was submitted by four advocates to the acting Chief Justice yesterday.
There are prima facie issues involved, which need to be addressed at the earliest for the need of the poor and common people of Meghalaya, the judge said.
It appears that various equipment have become junks in NEIGRIHMS, Shillong, as there are no manpower to utilize them, though it is a super-speciality hospital, the order said.
The condition is quite similar in the Civil Hospital and other hospitals as well as health centres where if doctors are available, medicines are not, and vice-versa, it said.

"That has been a pathetic scenario which infringed on the rights of the citizen of the country and the state of Meghalaya," the order stated.