Imphal: A joint fact-finding team of the People’s United Youth Alliance (PUYA) and the Foothills Naga Coordinating Committee (FNCC) has alleged glaring disparities in healthcare services in Manipur’s Ukhrul district, claiming that a single Upper Primary Health Centre (UPHC) in Imphal has more doctors than all the Community Health Centres (CHCs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in Ukhrul combined.
Addressing a press conference at the PUYA office in Sagolband Thangapat Mapal, Imphal, on Sunday, PUYA general secretary Longjam Abothe said the findings were based on a recent inspection of health facilities across the predominantly Tangkhul Naga-inhabited district.
According to the organisations, Ukhrul has one District Hospital, one Community Health Centre at Somdal, six Primary Health Centres and eight Primary Health Sub-Centres. However, the inspection found that the Somdal CHC is functioning with only one gynaecologist and no other doctors.
The team further alleged that four PHCs have only one doctor each, one PHC is managed solely by an AYUSH medical officer, while another is operating without any doctor.
Abothe also raised concerns over the disappearance of an X-ray machine that was reportedly allocated to Somdal CHC three years ago. He alleged that although the equipment was sent to the office of the Ukhrul Chief Medical Officer (CMO), the CMO was unaware of its existence and its current whereabouts remain unknown.
The organisations also highlighted staff shortages and absenteeism, claiming that several medical officers transferred to Ukhrul in May have not yet joined their posts. According to Abothe, the Chief Medical Officer has already reported the matter to the Director of Health Services.
Stating that the district hospital and rural health centres are struggling to provide even basic healthcare because of inadequate staffing and unauthorised staff substitutions, PUYA and the FNCC urged the Manipur government and the Health Directorate to immediately deploy sufficient medical personnel to Ukhrul to prevent a worsening healthcare crisis.