A growing public agitation over the deteriorating condition of Wangoi Community Health Centre (CHC) has brought the government’s failure to address critical shortages of doctors and medical manpower under renewed scrutiny, with residents warning that the movement will continue until their demands are met.
Residents of Wangoi and surrounding areas, including Meitei, Pangal and Kabui communities, said the agitation is not politically motivated but is driven by the urgent need to restore essential healthcare services at a hospital serving people from four districts.
Young Development Union Club president Longjam Achouba, speaking on behalf of five local clubs at a media interaction in Wangoi, said the crisis had been repeatedly brought to the attention of the authorities.
He said a press conference was held on the CHC campus on August 28, giving the authorities until September 30 to address the shortage of doctors and other manpower. A memorandum and reminder were subsequently submitted to the Chief Medical Officer, Imphal West, and the Director of Health Services on September 23, but no substantial improvement followed, he claimed.
The protesters said the failure to act by September 30 prompted local organisations to intensify the agitation.
They also rejected attempts to portray the movement as politically driven, saying the demand is limited to adequate healthcare services. They alleged that a rally connected with Wangoi MLA and Minister Khuraijam Loken was stopped by police before reaching his residence and that a memorandum was subsequently submitted. The organisations later announced a social boycott of the MLA, according to the protesters.
The shortage of specialist manpower has emerged as the central concern. Of the 10 doctors currently posted at the CHC, the protesters said only two are specialist doctors. The remaining personnel include two dental doctors, two AYUSH doctors, a microbiologist, dermatologist, gynaecologist and Medical Officer.
They have demanded the immediate appointment of eight additional doctors, including Medical Officers, a specialist paediatrician, specialist surgeon, senior Medical Officers, a medicine specialist and an ophthalmologist.