A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed before the High Court (HC) of Manipur by Ms. Clare Thingshung seeking to recruit/appoint an adequate number of Specialist Doctors, Nurses, Lab Technician, Grade IV and other staff as per sanctioned post which are vacant, to ensure the required number of staff to be posted, to monitor the disappropriate distribution between Imphal and Ukhrul district and to provide adequate number of ambulances for the Ukhrul District Hospital so as to ensure requisite health service as guaranteed by the constitution and as per Indian Public Health Standards guidelines.
The PIL states that Ukhrul District Hospital has been facing acute shortage of staff running with  a manpower of 40.52% consisting of 8 doctors, 13 nurses, one operational ambulance and equipments without sufficient expert technicians/operator for many years.
Ms. Clare Thingshung is a resident of Hungpung and a law student. The PIL filed in the HC (PIL No. 67 of 2021, Clare TS vs State of Manipur & 3 Ors.) by her counsel Carolin Kasar highlighted that the hospital does not have enough manpower, medical officers to avail quality services and care to the patients nor Technician/ competent person to operate the provided equipment in the hospital leading to large referral of patients to other private hospital or to the two tertiary hospitals of imphal, JNIMS or RIMS incurring additional and exorbitant expenses, which are not feasible for the tribal people belonging to a weaker section of society whose main source of livelihood is farming.
A press note issued on this application stated that on November 17, 2021, the HC observed that respondent has to fill the vacant post or the purpose of establishing a District Hospital rendered meaningless and the State shall be liable for the same.
The note further added the Counsel for the petitioner, Carolin Kasar stated that it is the duty and responsibility of the State to protect the rights of the Denizens of Ukhrul as for many years the people have been aggrieved by the apathy and unresponsive behaviour of the State Government for the health and welfare of the Ukhrul District.
It further stated, beside Constitution of India even international norms like Article 25 of the United Nation Declaration of Human Rights ensures that everyone has a right to standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family.
About The Author
