ITANAGAR, Jan 22 : National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)issued Notice to Chief Secretary on the acute shortage of Doctors in Kurung Kumey District after the North East Human Rights Organization (NHRO) lodged a complaint on dated 11-11-2022 alleging that the people of Kurung Kumey District were facing acute shortage of Doctors, Child Specialists and other specialists, etc. The complaint further alleged the public are suffering due to the non-availability of medical equipment, etc., in the district.
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the Chief Secretary to submit reports within Four weeks
NHRC in its letter stated that, On dated 14.12.2022 the Commission received report from the office of the Joint Secretary to the Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh. As per the report, the list of sanctioned strength and present number of doctors in Kurung Kumey District had been furnished. It was further reported that the Director of Health Services, Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh has placed many proposals for posting of doctors in Kurung Kumey District, which has been approved and order was passed. However, due to the concerned doctor’s representation for retention, the process has not achieved its intended action yet. The report reveals a shocking state of affairs. Seven of the PHC/CHCs have no doctor at all, despite a sanctioned post in each.
There are only 5 doctors in place as against 23 sanctioned posts of doctors in 9 Hospitals/PHC/CHCs. The District Hospital has only 4 doctors, as against 11 sanctioned posts. Right to health can be read into the fundamental right to life under article 21 of the Constitution, as held by the Supreme Court. Moreover, article 47 of the Constitution mandates that it is among the primary duties of the State to improve public health. Evidently, the State needs to do much more to ensure that its people have access to basic health care.
Let the Chief Secretary of the state initiate measures to rectify the situation and to submit a follow up report to the Commission within 4 weeks. Let a copy of report of the Joint Secretary to the Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh dated 14.12.2022 along with other reports be sent to the complainant for comments, if any, within four weeks, failing which the Commission shall decide the matter on merits.
Further, Secretary State Affairs NEHRO Buteng Tayeng stated ‘We are very shocked to know the acute shortage of manpower in the health department of Kurung Kumey District. We believe that, one of the major problems is that political leaders are interfering in the transfer and posting of doctors for their personal political gain and appeal to Chief Minister, Pema Khandu to issue a strict directive to refrain everyone from political interference, Secretary State Affairs NEHRO.
He also stated It is important for government leaders to refrain from interfering in the transfer and posting of doctors, and to ensure that any decisions made are based on the best interests of the patients and the health care system. Additionally, to address this problem, it is important for governments to create and enforce clear policies that ensure that transfers and postings are made on the basis of merit, rather than political interests.