CHABUA, Nov 6 - The historic St Luke�s Hospital at Chabua, which has been widely acknowledged by the rural masses of the region for a century now, is temporarily suspending its services.
The proposed suspension of all medical services came to the fore after the oldest charitable hospital, which had its beginning in 1923, began issuing �release letter� to all its employees yesterday.
The �release letter� was issued by the administrator after the North East Frontier Regional Board of Health Services, a registered body of the Diocese of North East India, Church of North India, having its headquarters in Shillong, which runs the hospital, decided to discontinue the services of the staff in its meeting held on October 30 due to financial crisis.
North East Frontier Regional Board of Health Services chairman Bishop Michael Herenz told The Assam Tribune that the management is not in a position to run the hospital due to financial crisis. �The hospital is not generating any revenue. We have no other sources of income and therefore, we are unable to meet the expenses of running the hospital. We are unable to pay the engaged staff. We are already shouldering a liability of about Rs 6 crore. We are not in a position to continue our services as of now,� said Bishop Herenz.
On the speculated closure of the hospital, the chairman clarified that the authorities are not closing down the hospital. �We have not declared the closure of the hospital. We may go for the renovation of the hospital in future with better facilities. This is an option because right now we do not have the money to continue. There is no earning from the hospital. For the last two years, we have been arranging money to support the hospital. But now, we are left with no fund. We have failed to upgrade and renovate the hospital. Therefore, the hospital management is also planning to outsource the services. We are looking for interested partners in the health sector who can bring in quality service with modern facilities so that the people of the area can avail better and affordable healthcare, which we are unable to provide right now,� said Bishop Herenz.
The �release letter�, which was handed over to the employees of the hospital, triggered protest on the premises of the hospital today.
CHABUA, Nov 6 - The historic St Luke�s Hospital at Chabua, which has been widely acknowledged by the rural masses of the region for a century now, is temporarily suspending its services.
The proposed suspension of all medical services came to the fore after the oldest charitable hospital, which had its beginning in 1923, began issuing �release letter� to all its employees yesterday.
The �release letter� was issued by the administrator after the North East Frontier Regional Board of Health Services, a registered body of the Diocese of North East India, Church of North India, having its headquarters in Shillong, which runs the hospital, decided to discontinue the services of the staff in its meeting held on October 30 due to financial crisis.
North East Frontier Regional Board of Health Services chairman Bishop Michael Herenz told The Assam Tribune that the management is not in a position to run the hospital due to financial crisis. �The hospital is not generating any revenue. We have no other sources of income and therefore, we are unable to meet the expenses of running the hospital. We are unable to pay the engaged staff. We are already shouldering a liability of about Rs 6 crore. We are not in a position to continue our services as of now,� said Bishop Herenz.
On the speculated closure of the hospital, the chairman clarified that the authorities are not closing down the hospital. �We have not declared the closure of the hospital. We may go for the renovation of the hospital in future with better facilities. This is an option because right now we do not have the money to continue. There is no earning from the hospital. For the last two years, we have been arranging money to support the hospital. But now, we are left with no fund. We have failed to upgrade and renovate the hospital. Therefore, the hospital management is also planning to outsource the services. We are looking for interested partners in the health sector who can bring in quality service with modern facilities so that the people of the area can avail better and affordable healthcare, which we are unable to provide right now,� said Bishop Herenz.
The �release letter�, which was handed over to the employees of the hospital, triggered protest on the premises of the hospital today.
