NHRC seeks report on poor healthcare facilities in Kurung Kumey district

 A CORRESPONDENT

ITANAGAR: A complaint has been filed at the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) by the North East Human Rights Organization (NEHRO), alleging that the people of the Kurung Kumey district are facing acute shortage of doctors, child specialists, other specialists, etc.

The complaint further alleged suffering of suffering due to non-availability of medical equipments etc., in the district. Pursuant to the directions of the NHRC, a report was received from the office of the Joint Secretary to the Arunachal Pradesh Government.

As per the report, the list of sanctioned strength and present number of doctors in the Kurung Kumey district had been furnished. It was further reported that the Director of Health Services (DHS) has placed many proposals for posting of doctors in the district, which have been approved and orders passed. However, due to the representation for retention by the doctor concerned, the process has not achieved its intended action yet.

NEHRO secretary for State affairs, Buteng Tayeng informed further informed that the report reveals a shocking state of affairs. Seven of the PHC/CHCs have no doctor at all, despite there being a sanctioned post in each.

There are only five doctors in place as against 23 sanctioned posts of doctors in nine hospitals/PHC/CHCs.

The District Hospital has only four doctors 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, Tayeng said. Accordingly, the NHRC has directed the Chief Secretary of Arunachal Pradesh to initiate measures to rectify the situation and to submit a follow-up report to the Commission within four weeks.

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