[ Amar Sangno ]
ITANAGAR, 12 Sep: On 11 September, the officials and staff of the Tomo Riba Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (TRIHMS), Naharlagun, did not observe a black day to mark the anniversary of the day when two resident doctors were brutally assaulted and the state's lone premier medical institute was subsequently subjected to a vitriolic social media campaign.
However, their silence does not mean they have forgotten or forgiven the traumatic day. A senior doctor, who did not wish to be named, claimed that the state government has failed to fulfil even a single demand submitted by the state's medical and nursing bodies in the aftermath of the incident.
The demands were: a dedicated security system at the TRIHMS and strengthened security in major hospitals in the capital region and district/general hospitals, to be managed by the state police. The security detail was to be led by an officer not below the rank of sub-inspector. As part of strengthening security, the medical bodies demanded that valid ID proof be made mandatory for entry into hospital premises.
They further sought government orders making violations punishable under appropriate legal provisions.
Immediate recruitment of nursing officers was one of the significant demands. They sought advertisement for 126 nursing officer posts within seven days and completion of recruitment at the earliest - and in any case within three months. They further sought creation of additional nursing posts and 300 new nursing officer posts for the TRIHMS to meet the rising patient load and strengthen the quality of care.
To bridge the communication gap between the medical authorities and the masses, the medical bodies also sought a public relations officer and a media and information, education and communication (IEC) cell at the TRIHMS and major hospitals. The bodies also sought meetings with community-based organisations to deliver a message of peace and restore a sense of security among doctors.
Meanwhile, Health Secretary Vivek HP informed that 300 nursing officers are being recruited in the month of November 2026.
The secretary further stated that the hospital administration is contemplating enforcing stricter visiting hours for better management. "The solution is not strengthening security. After all, it's a hospital, not a jail. How do you expect to treat patients with an iron fist?" added the secretary, stating that Arunachal society as a whole also has to take some responsibility.
The secretary further informed that the authority would issue directives for stricter visiting hours for patients' attendants, and for adopting a 'one attendant per patient' policy.
