Demanding Speedy Justice for Late Mrs.Kanpatliu Kamei

We are shocked and dismayed by the denial of basic human rights by various health institutions eventually leading to the death of Mrs. Kanpatliu Kamei w/o Roshan Balang of Puichi village, Haochong Subdivision, Noney district Manipur.  This is the immediate result of systemic failure of the healthcare infrastructure and long neglect of basic healthcare facilities in the interior districts and villages of the state. We are perturbed by the indifferent attitude of the medical staff towards a tribal and most specifically against the denial of the right to access to healthcare to a pregnant woman in government hospitals particularly JNIMS and RIMS including private hospitals namely Imphal Hospital, Raj Medicity, and Shija Hospital recognized as the topmost medical institutions in the state.

The patient was first admitted to Senapati District Hospital from Makuilongdi village around 4 PM on the 5th of August 2020. The medical team at the District Hospital, Senapati was optimistic that a normal delivery will be possible but later referred the case to JNIMS, Imphal as her condition deteriorates. The late patient family asked for an ambulance from the district hospital authority, Senapati but was denied transportation. So, they hired a private vehicle and reached JNIMS around 12 midnight but the nurse reportedly told them that doctors are unavailable and she was again referred to RIMS. Even at RIMS, the door was closed for the patient. The patient family was asked to look for and admit her at a private hospital i.e. Imphal Hospital. Imphal Hospital also refused to admit her on the pretext of non-availability of doctors. 

Thereafter they visited Raj Medicity, there too, they were denied entry saying the gate was closed for an appointment. And as the patient’s health deteriorates, they rushed Mrs. Kanpatliu Kamei to Shija Hospital located at Langol (outskirt of the main city), which was her last hope but like all the other hospitals she was denied entry and she passed away at the entrance of Casualty Ward on 6th August 2020 around 4 A.M.

The aforementioned hospitals, the Health Department and the government of Manipur need to answer a few questions:

1. Why was late. Mrs. Kanpatliu Kamei referred to JNIMS, Imphal when gynecologists were available at District Hospitals, Senapati? Are the medical facilities inadequate at the district hospitals? If so, why was the government not improving the infrastructure?

2. Why was late Mrs.Kanpatliu Kamei denied admission at JNIMS and RIMS (government medical institution), and Imphal Hospital, Raj Medicity, and Shija Hospital (Private hospitals) despite having a COVID-19 negative certificate? Why did these major medical institutions not willing to admit a needy patient?

3. Why is the state imposing harsh restriction in the name of COVID-19 lockdown whereby the non-COVID-19 patients are not able to access medical facilities? Why is the government and medical fraternities spreading fear thereby giving a negative perception/impression on the people?

We would like the Health Department and the Government of Manipur to look into the following concerns of the people with sincerity and urgency.

1. To complete the process of the Enquiry Committee set up by the Health Department within the stipulated period and bring out all those involved in the gross negligence and immediately suspend all the medical staff, doctors involved in this gross denial of basic rights. We would ask the Enquiry Committee to be fair and just in their investigation. The government should identify all those women who died due to maternal complications during this lockdown period and the Enquiry Committee constituted by the Health Department (GoM) should look into all these cases and not just one particular case. The Enquiry Committee should expand to include a retired judge, police inspector, and a member of a reputed CSO.

2. The state government should check/revisit the various health infrastructures located in the hills particularly in the remote districts, subdivisions and villages. And to make necessary arrangements for maternity care in all districts and sub-divisions with provision for ambulances in emergency cases. The government should revive all non-functional dispensary and primary health centers located in far-flung areas. These health centers are lifesavers. And all those medical staffs should immediately join their place of posting and if there are none, the government should immediately identify and post healthcare workers.

All District Hospitals and Primary Health Centres should have an obstetrician/gynecologist at the station. All health benefits should be given to pregnant women and lactating mothers.

3. To provide compensation to the family. Roshan Balang and his wife late Kanpatliu Kamei recently (May 20) came from Delhi and after the completion of the Institutional Quarantine (Rengpang, Nungba) and Community Quarantine at Puichi they left for Makuilongdi, the native village of Late. Kanpatliu Kamei.

4. People of the state particularly those residing in the hill districts are facing numerous difficulties due to bad road conditions and lack of internet connectivity. The government should not lose its sight on such basic infrastructure even during this pandemic.

The brunt of this lockdown has affected the common people and those living in the margin. The state administration should emphasis on healthcare, small farmers and cultivators, and the vulnerable especially widow, physically challenged, pregnant women, children and old aged people. The government should not use an ill-fated episode as a wake-up call for its decades of institutional apathy.

Organizations that have spoken up for justice: 

Inpui Naga Union (INU), Inpui Naga Women's' Union (INWU), All Inpui Students' Union (AISU), Naga Women's' Union (NWU), Naga Peoples' Movement for Human Rights, All Tribal Rights' Protection Forum Manipur ATRPFM). Federation of All Tribal Youth Club Manipur (FATYCM), Longmai Areas Village Authority Council (LAVAC), Thadou Youth Association, Republican Party of India, Women Welfare Organization, Kangleipak,  etc.

Major newspapers/channel that covered the news: India Today, New Indian Express, Indian Express, OutlookIndia, East Mojo, NeNow, The Logical Indian, Times of India, Hillstimes, TheNewsvilla, Time8, SheThePeople, Hindustan Times, TomTv, ImpactTv, ThePeopleChronicle, Imphal Free Press, The Northeast Today, Assam Tribune, HeadlinesToday, Daily Hunt, The Sangai Express, Ukhrul Times, Epao, Latestly, etc.