By Dnbir
IMPHAL, December 26: Tuberculosis patients in the State are unable to undergo the Mantoux Test at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences due to wrongful administration and conduct of the hospital authorities.
This comes as a surprise as high ranking authorities of the hospital during the 43rd foundation day celebration of the institute on September 14 had claimed several achievements of the hospital and that efforts are being made to upgrade the hospital to the stage of AIIMS.
Many patients who turned up at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, RIMS of Imphal, have to returned home disappointed with the hospital authorities failing to provide Mantoux Test for Tuberculosis disease today morning.
A large number of patients have turned up following the Christmas holiday on December 25 to avail Montoux test which is available on regular days at the institution. Long queue of patients were seen at the OPD counter. Some of them who have specifically booked their tickets to avail the said test were left high and dry.
It was learnt that BCG technician who was supposed to conduct the test is on a month-long leave. Talking to IFP, some of the patients disclosed that they were also told by the hospital staff that there is no other technician who can conduct the Montoux test.
Further, efforts were made to contact the higher authorities of the institute such as the Director and the Medical Superintendent by this reporter. But no contact could be established with them as it was learnt that they were busy in a meeting over a `mark tabulation`™ work.
However, after much effort IFP was able to talk with the Director of the institution, Prof Ch Arunkumar over the phone. After briefing him about the prevailing situation regarding the unavailability of Montoux test facility, the director passed on the phone to Prof M Amuba, who is the MS of RIMS.
According to Prof Amuba, no such case of was reported to him regarding the test. But Prof Amuba at the same time assured this reporter that he will take stock of the situation within five minutes.
It may be mentioned that no official statement regarding the incident has been made available by the RIMS authorities at the time of filing this report.