Raising questions over the manner in which the ruling PDA coalition government was allegedly trying to circumvent due process for misuse of funds under the plea of tackling the current second wave of the Covid pandemic; NPF Legislature Party spokesperson Imkong L. Imchen has again hit out at the ruling dispensation over the construction of a 176-bedded facility for Covid patients at Christian Institute of Health Sciences and Research (CIHSR).
In a statement, Imchen drew attention to what he termed as “historic press conference”, conducted by health and family welfare minister S. Pangnyu on June 4 and assisted by principal secretary H&FW A.S. Bhatia and principal director H&FW Dr. Neikhrielie Khimiao.
Imchen opined that the three had “re-postured” from the earlier statement of the chief minister who on May 25, stated that a 176-bedded hospital for Covid patients would be constructed at CIHSR.
Imchen said on June 2, the principal director H&FW said the proposed 176-bedded hospital at CIHSR would be a makeshift (tentage) Covid hospital.
He said on June 4, the principal secretary H&FW stated that a “pre-engineered Acute Care Hospital, having intake capacity for 200 beds, including a 24-bedded pediatric ICU ward will be constructed.”
Imchen said this was evident that all three– minister, principal secy and principal director “have avoided” mentioning about the fund of Rs.30 crore involved for the proposed project during the press conference. He said the reason for not mentioning the sum of Rs.30 crore was best known to the three.
However, Imchen maintained that the people of Nagaland “are intelligent enough to know their tricks anyway”.
Imchen then posed questions over the project for the government to answer. He asked whether CIHSR hospital has already been taken over by the state government as the latter decided to spend a huge amount of money to the tune of Rs.30 crore for the private hospital?
Imchen said if in the affirmative, then when did the government take over CIHSR and under what authority- the cabinet, assembly or by any other public ordinance?
He said if the Christian Institute of Health Sciences and Research is already taken over by the state government then what is the legal position of the tripartite MoU signed on May 27, 2005 between the state government (H&FW department), Christian Medical College & Hospital Vellore and the Emmanuel Hospital Association ?
Imchen also asked that if CIHSR is to be a government hospital then what is the staffing structure, funding and management since in government hospitals, staff salaries were borne by the state government having duly created posts with financial concurrence.
He also said as per statement at the June 4 press conference, there was no specific time-frame for completion of the proposed 176-beded capacity and so what would be the fate of the present covid-19 patients before its completion since no fund allocation have been made to various district hospitals to treat Covid patients.
Imchen also demanded to know where a proper and formal tender notice was advertised in the media inviting bidders for the construction at the hospital? He said if so, then which newspapers published the tender and when?
Imchen said if the answers to the above are ‘No’ then the chief minister, minister of H&FW, principal secretary H&FW and principal director H&FW “are liable for criminal prosecution for misappropriating public money and misleading the people of the state for no cause.”
He said the NPF LP as “true representatives of the people” is making the clarion call in the larger interest of the public and called upon the government “to maintain transparency and accountability, while occupying the public office.”