Imphal, July 24: Terming the closure of RIMS for 3 days as deprivation to the right of the common people, Human Rights Initiative has put the matter with the National Human Rights Commission and pleaded the commission to take up prompt action against those responsible to the development.
Regional Institute of Medical Science (RIMS), a reputed Health Care institute besides being a reputed college has been in the news many times in the last few years not for good reason but for hue and cry from patient party alleging doctors’ negligence.
Human Rights Initiative (HRI) lodge a complaint to NHRC against Prof. Ch. Arunkumar Singh, Director and Prof. L. Ranjit Singh, HOD-Gynecology of Regional Institute of Medical Science (RIMS), Imphal Manipur for shutting down OPD from 21st July to 23rd July 2016 on the ground that the suspension of Dr. L Trinity Meetei during an inquiry on Smt. Kheroda Devi, who died during normal delivery on 5th July 2016, will be revoked and thereby leading to deprivation of the right to health of the citizens.
In the complaint, it is stated that the closure of RIMS OPD following a suspension of a doctor identified as Dr. Trinity who is being alleged by a patient party of intentional negligence after a lady identified as Th Kheroda Devi died during delivery at the hospital.
It is reported that the woman died due to the negligence and loopholes of doctors who were involved in the said delivery. In this regard, hue and cry citizens’ action/movement led by the “JAC (Joint Action Committee) against the Death of Thokchom Ongbi Kheroda Devi by the Negligence of Doctors in RIMS Hospital” has been carried out till date. Consequently, on 6th July 2016, an Inquiry Committee comprising with four senior doctors of the hospital, has been notified by the RIMS Authority to ascertain the facts and circumstances of the death of the ill-fated woman after minute discussion with RIMS Authority. Following the enquiry report, Director, RIMS, Imphal suspended Dr L Trinity Meetei from his duties on the ground that he is the responsibility of the death. However, on 12th July 2016, Prof. Dr. L. Ranjit Singh, HOD, Gynecology Department, RIMS, who is also a member of the Enquiry Committee, being a President of a Doctors’ group namely Imphal Obstetric and Gynecological Society Manipur decried the suspension shut down the RIMS OPD from July 21 to July 23.
The HRI blamed the Director and the HOD for its failure to open the OPD in the interest of the general public.
HRI also alleged that it may be mentioned that there is no separate open counter for providing basic medicines to the patients and as such, there is lack of transparency for buying medicines and equal rights of the patients. Further, it may also be submitted that the Doctors have failed to issue prescriptions of medicines in generic names in accordance with the provisions of para 1:5 of the (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics)Regulations, 2002laid down by MCI and hence no action has been taken up against those doctors who are violating the provisions of law and practicing in private hospitals/clinics illegally.
