SHILLONG: The Meghalaya health department has officially confirmed that no doctors were on duty at the Mawlai Mawiong Community Health Centre (CHC) when the late Member of Parliament for Shillong, Dr. Ricky AJ Syngkon, was rushed there following a medical emergency.
The admission follows a formal inquiry report submitted by the District Medical & Health Officer (DMHO). The investigation was launched after public outcry regarding the lack of immediate medical intervention for the MP on the night of February 19.
According to the report, Dr. Syngkon collapsed while at the Ratson Arena Football Ground. Due to a significant delay in the arrival of the 108 Ambulance service, bystanders were forced to transport him to the Mawiong CHC in a private vehicle. Upon arrival, witnesses found that only nursing staff were present at the facility.
While the nurses reportedly followed standard emergency protocols, the absence of a Medical Officer to perform more advanced life-saving procedures necessitated an immediate transfer to Dr. H. Gordon Roberts Hospital. Tragically, Dr. Syngkon was pronounced dead at approximately 8:42 PM.
Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma addressed the lapse, stating that the health department has initiated necessary actions based on the investigation’s findings. He emphasized that while the government has faced recruitment hurdles in the past due to the heavy workload of the MPSC, a new recruitment board has been established to fast-track appointments.
“We have recently appointed 550 doctors and approximately 30 to 35 specialists,” the Chief Minister said, adding that the state has doubled its health budget relative to the national average to improve infrastructure and equipment.
Currently, the state has sanctioned 260 Medical & Health Officer (M&HO) posts, including 139 for Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and 121 for Community Health Centres (CHCs). To prevent similar incidents in the future, the Directorate of Health Services has implemented a Digital Dashboard to monitor staff presence and service delivery across all state-run medical facilities in real-time.
The incident has sparked a wider debate about healthcare accessibility in Meghalaya. Critics argue that if a facility on the outskirts of the state capital lacks 24/7 medical staffing, the situation in remote, rural areas remains even more precarious.
