The Director of Health Services (DHS) had to make promises to the Hynñiewtrep Integrated Territorial Organisation (HITO) after the latter complained about the lack of key staff and equipment at the Khliehriat Civil Hospital.
The state government, in February, had with great fanfare inaugurated the 100-bed hospital, which was upgraded from a community health centre.
HITO today, however, said that upgrade was to be found only in the signboard, not in actual reality.
The DHS, Dr Aman Warr, promised to provide an x-ray and scanning machine within one week for the hospital. Members of the pressure group’s East Jaiñtia Hills unit met him today regarding this.
HITO unit president Deibormi Rymbai also said that the hospital’s ICU is non-functional at the moment and there is no resident anaesthesiologist.
Even the promised 100 beds have yet to materialise as there are only 50 at present. Most patients, he added, are referred to Jowai as the Khliehriat hospital is unable to treat them.
Dr Warr reportedly told HITO that once the District Medical and Health Officer’s office is moved to another building, the other 50 beds will be added to the capacity. However, the DHS was unable to give any assurances as to the anaesthesiologist, Rymbai said.
