Chaos at RIMS hospital campusafter two patients die in 24 hours

Regional Institute of Medical Science (RIMS), Imphal was once again thrown into an ugly situation on Sunday after families and relatives of two patients who died in the last 24 hours resorted to vandalism with strong allegations of medical negligence.
The normal healthcare services in this Central-run premier hospital are likely to be disturbed as teachers and medical officers of the institute announced suspension of all healthcare services including OPD, emergency, routine OT, and PME, following a violent assault on one of the senior consultants during the vandalism.
A 35-year-old woman, Chingshubam Manju from Lilong Chajing of Imphal West district, who gave birth to baby girl through caesarean operation, died in the wee hours of today, around 3.30 am. Though she successfully gave birth to a baby girl around 2.30 pm on September 20, her health condition worsened due to excessive bleeding, prompting doctors to advise a second surgery.
During the second surgery which reportedly started too late, around 8pm, she lost consciousness and was shifted to the ICU only to inform the family about her passing away in the wee hours. Earlier, a 50-year-old man, Yambem Sanjoy of Bamon Kampu Mayai Leikai in Imphal East died shortly after he was readmitted to the hospital on Saturday (September 20).
He was first admitted earlier the same day with complaints of arm pain. After initial tests were conducted, the doctor attending him told his family to come with the test results which would be available on September 22 and discharged him from the hospital.
In the afternoon of the same day, he was once again rushed to the same hospital after his health deteriorated. However, he breathed his last while undergoing an ECG examination. With strong allegations of medical negligence on the part of the doctors attending them, family members and relatives lodged separate complaints to the higher authorities of the RIMS.
When no satisfactory response was received from the higher authorities, the patient parties along with their relatives staged protests separately, seeking explanations from medical authorities. After the hospital authorities allegedly failed to come with satisfactory responses, the irate crowds resorted to ransacking the properties of the hospital.
Meanwhile, to protest against alleging physical assault on one of the senior consultants of the institute and false allegations during Sunday’s chaos in the hospital campus, Teachers and Medical Officers Association (TAMOA), RIMS announced a complete shutdown of all hospital services with immediate effect.
TAMOA, in a release, strongly condemned the violent assault and false allegations against the senior consultant and said that all services including OPD, emergency, routine OT, and PME will be suspended with immediate effect “until the culprits are booked and a safe working environment is ensured.”
However, TAMOA clarified that patients already admitted will continue to receive proper care.
The association further resolved to press the RIMS authority to lodge an FIR, initiate legal action, issue a formal condemnation, clarify false social media allegations, and conduct an inquiry into security lapses.
Normal duties will only resume once safety for healthcare providers is assured, the statement said.