IMPHAL, May 16: Considering possible paralysis of hospitals in the state including the RIMS and JN Hospital due to the shortage of life saving drugs and oxygen on account of the economic blockade, the Central government has given the approval for airlifting medical and health care items into the state by a military aircraft from Guwahati.

According to an official source, concerned authorities of the RIMS and JN Hospital have officially conveyed to the state government recently about the difficulties in running the hospitals due to depletion of life saving drugs and oxygen due to stoppage of supply caused by the prolonged
economic blockade along the national highways.

In this connection an official meeting was convened yesterday chaired by the commissioner health and officials of both the RIMS and JN Hospital. During the meeting it was resolved to pressurized the Centre for immediate arrangement of transporting life saving drugs and other medical requirements for the government run hospitals in the nearest future, the source said.

The source further mentioned that official resolutions of the meeting to consider the for alternative measures to brought life saving drugs and Oxygen have been put forwarded to the concern Central ministry yesterday itself.

As result, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India has given green signals to transport all required life saving drugs, oxygen and other needs of the hospitals on a special military aircraft from Guwahati, the source added.
       In this connection, carrying official records of stocks of life saving drugs, Oxygen and other requirement of hospitals, a joint official team of the RIMS and the State Health department have left Imphal for Guwahati to bring in the requirement into the state, the source added.

It may be mentioned that due to the lack of life saving drugs and oxygen in major public hospital like RIMS and JN hospital, there have been suspension of emergency operations due to the shortage of Oxygen and also due to irregularities in power supply caused by limited fuel and other supplies of requirements for the hospital caused by the prolonged economic blockade in the state.


~ Imphal Free Press