Nongpoh, April 9: Youth of Mawhati region have raised serious concerns over lack of doctors at the primary health centres in Mawhati and Mawlasnai that has left many residents without access to necessary medical care.
According to the youth representatives, the Mawlasnai PHC has been operating without a doctor for nearly two years, while the Mawhati PHC has not had a physician for the past three months.
This situation highlights a serious case of government neglect, particularly detrimental to rural communities that rely heavily on these facilities for medical attention, the youth representative said.
The absence of medical personnel has resulted in immense hardship, as patients from surrounding villages frequently visit these centres, often returning without the care they desperately need and burdensome for economically weaker families who cannot afford treatment in urban hospitals, they added.
The youth representatives met the District Medical & Health Officer (DMHO) of Ri-Bhoi and submitted a formal complaint, urging immediate deployment of doctors to both health centres.
Speaking to reporters, Donald Muktieh and Shanlang Diengdoh said such negligence reflects poorly on the system, particularly when rural populations are left to suffer without basic healthcare services.
They further stated that while the government often cites reluctance among doctors to serve in remote areas, stronger measures should be taken to ensure accountability. “Licenses of doctors unwilling to serve in rural postings should be reviewed, instead of allowing such critical gaps to persist,” they said.
The youth warned that if the government fails to address the issue within one week, they may be compelled to take further action, including locking the health centres. “There is no point in having a health facility without doctors, it becomes nothing more than an empty structure,” they asserted.
