Minister of Health and Family Welfare (H&FW) P Paiwang Konyak announced that the District Hospital Dimapur (DHD) will be converted into a Referral Hospital of the state.
He said this during a review meeting with the chief medical officer, medical superintendent, doctors and staff of District Hospital Dimapur held at the hospital’s conference hall here Saturday.
Paiwang maintained that DHD has been catering to patients from every district of the state and stressed on upgrading its infrastructure, increasing manpower and providing state-of-art facilities.
In this regard, he stated that DHD would be transformed into a Referral Hospital with adequate manpower and equipment. “Manpower will be strengthened, the best doctors and super specialists will be placed at the hospital in order to cater to the needs of the patients,” he assured.
The minister also assured he would personally donate medical equipment such as endoscopy and laparoscopy sets, video processor, gastroscope, colonoscope equipment, medical grade monitor, etc, worth Rs 66.50 lakh.
He disclosed that the H&FW department would soon be carrying out a major reshuffle of doctors/medical officers to address the issue of shortage of manpower at district level.
Paiwang said specialists and doctors and programmes officers posted in the directorate would be posted to district hospitals or medical centres.
He stated the department was working on a mechanism where transfer and posting would strictly be for three years like those of civil and police officials and doctors should be willing to serve anywhere.
Paiwang categorically stated that he would not entertain any request with regard to transfer and postings as the procedures would have to be strictly followed.
Warning against private practices: The minister also warned in-service government doctors both availing as well as not availing Non-Practicing Allowance (NPA) who are engaged in private practices in hospitals or in partnership with others. He asked such doctors to shut down their private clinics/hospitals or dissociate from such partnerships. He pointed out that such practices were against the service code of conduct and urged such doctors to either stop private practices or face disciplinary action while reminding them to strictly adhere to the recent change in OPD time – from 9 am to 3 pm.
Taking steps to control dengue: On the surge of dengue cases in the state, the minister claimed that the department had taken steps to control the situation. He called for creating awareness among the public and also to enlighten them on the ill-effects of fogging.
He said Deputy Commissioner (DC)Dimapur, Sachin Jaiswal has been requested to coordinate with the GBs and village/colony councils to encourage carrying out of cleanliness drives on a regular basis.
He further suggested segregating dengue patients and confine them into separate rooms/wards.
Referring to various government initiatives such as the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) and Chief Minister’s Health Insurance Scheme (CMHIS), the minister directed the doctors to ensure that the patients availed the services of these schemes.
On the delay in construction and completion of the hospital, he assured to look into the matter.
The minister along with the DHD doctors and staff, officials from the H&FW directorate and the DC inspected the DHD premises and took note of issues that needed immediate intervention.