Meghalaya High Court on Wednesday directed the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) to work out a solution to ensure that surgeries for cardiac patients are carried out from Thursday.

A division bench of Chief Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir and Justice H.S. Thangkhiew adjudicated an issue raised by senior advocate S.P. Mahanta relating to the imbroglio at the institute, which has led to postponement of around 34 surgeries in the cardiology department. The imbroglio began as a result of differences between the cardiology department and the authorities of the institute.

On Wednesday, the director of the institute, D.M. Thappa, and head of cardiology department, Dr Animesh Mishra, appeared before the court.

“From their submissions, it appears that there is some trust deficit, as a result whereof important surgical materials required to be utilised in the surgeries have not been made available for varied reasons,” the court observed.

The director made it clear that he was adhering to all advisories and formalities, and would ensure that all materials required by the cardiology department are made available to them.

“He stated that a meeting has been convened by the medical superintendent but the cardiology department did not send its representative. It is also divulged that some surgical materials are being supplied on subsidised rates under Amrit scheme. Amrit Pharmacy at times is not supplying the materials on time which gives rise to complications and it is in that backdrop modalities were to be worked out in the interest of patient care so as to purchase such materials from other sources,” the court order noted.

The court expressed dismay that patients in the cardiology department have been suffering and some patients have requested to be referred to other hospitals. “The fact of the matter as emerged from their respective submission is that surgical material in quantity and quality is not made available so as to help the cardiology department to carry out its day-to-day work, including emergency surgeries,” the court stated.

“At this stage, we are persuaded to direct both the director and the head of the cardiology department to work out a formula so that patient care may not suffer,” the court said.

The court directed that the medical superintendent should hold a meeting with the cardiology department and work out a solution so that from Thursday, surgeries are carried out according to schedule.

“We direct that the state chief secretary shall depute an additional chief secretary to head the meeting to be held tomorrow in NEIGRIHMS itself. In the meeting, the director, head of cardiology department, Dr Mishra, and the medical superintendent, NEIGRIHMS shall participate, along with a representative from the ministry of health ,” the court ordered.

A representative of Amrit Pharmacy will also have to be included in the meeting and a long-term solution to all the issues would have to be worked out, the court added.

“Whatever decision taken by the committee shall be implemented and report be submitted to this court on Monday,” the court stated.