Shillong: The Meghalaya government has received the inquiry report regarding claims that no doctor was on duty at Mawlai Mawiong Community Health Centre the night Lok Sabha MP Ricky A.J. Syngkon collapsed and later died.
The report was submitted by the District Medical and Health Officer (DMHO) under government instructions and is being reviewed by senior officials from the Health Department.
Syngkon’s sudden passing has triggered strong public reaction and raised concerns about the quality of medical services in the state. The issue of doctor shortages in primary and community health centres, which the MP had repeatedly raised, has received renewed attention.
According to reports, the CHC on the outskirts of Shillong did not have a doctor on duty, with only nursing staff available at the time. This has prompted questions about the ability of the centre to provide continuous care, as staffing gaps appear to persist.
The MP collapsed while playing futsal at Ratson Arena. Eyewitnesses said that the 108 ambulance service was contacted immediately, but delays led bystanders to take him to the CHC in a private vehicle.
A senior Health Department official stated that the nurses provided emergency care to the best of their abilities and recommended transfer to a hospital with more facilities. Recognising the seriousness of his condition, the patient was taken to Dr H. Gordon Roberts Hospital, where he was pronounced dead around 8:42 pm despite resuscitation attempts.
Officials reported that there are 260 sanctioned Medical and Health Officer positions across PHCs and CHCs, including 42 posts for specialists. Authorities admitted that many government hospitals face ongoing shortages of doctors and nurses, while patient numbers have grown significantly in recent years.
The Directorate of Health Services has introduced a digital system to continuously track staffing and service delivery across health facilities in the state.