Tura, July 20:

Brief

– GSU, FKJGP, AIGU and FAF oppose transfer of two doctors from Williamnagar district hospital

– One of the doctors is a psychiatrist and the other an eye specialist

– Eye specialist transferred without any replacement

– Patients now have to go to Tura for diagnosis and treatment of any eye ailment

– Office picketing of DMHO in Williamnagar on July 27 – 28

Full Report

Tura, July 20: Garo organizations from East Garo Hills district have threatened to launch an office picketing of the office of the District Medical and Health Officer (DMHO) in Williamnagar from July 27 to 28 to oppose the transfer of two doctors, a Psychiatrist and an Eye Specialist from the district hospital to another region.

Members of the GSU, FKJGP, AIGU and FAF groups met together on Monday and criticized the health department for refusing to stay the transfers.

“We had filed a written complaint to the Commissioner & Secretary Health and Family Welfare department, the local MLA, Deputy Commissioner and DM&HO, to stay the transfer order of a lone Psychiatrist without any replacement as people would have problems in future. We even held a poster campaign but our request fell on deaf ears and was ignored by the concerned authorities,” said the East Garo Hills GSU President, Saljrang R Marak in a statement.

Another grouse of theirs is the recent transfer of the only Eye specialist that was reportedly done without a replacement being put in his place because of which patients are having to go down to Tura in West Garo Hills for treatment.

“We have no other option but to resort to the three day agitation to make our voices heard as our earlier representations and demonstrations to stall the random transfer of officials from the hospital have been repeatedly unheeded by the concerned authorities,” said the protesting groups.