Ao Senden rejects Health Department’s reply, warns of action from Oct 21

Mokokchung, 17^th October 2026 (Nokinketer News): The Ao Senden, the apex body of the Ao Naga tribe, has rejected the Nagaland Health and Family Welfare Department’s reply to its ultimatum over the radiology specialist shortage at Imkongliba Memorial District Hospital (IMDH), Mokokchung, and warned that it would take its own course of action from October 21, 2026.

In a letter addressed to the Principal Director of the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare, Nagaland, through the Chief Medical Officer, Mokokchung, the Ao Senden rejected “in toto” the reasons stated in the department’s reply dated October 15, 2026.

The Ao Senden stated that, under a notification issued on August 19, 2026, a Senior Specialist Radiologist from IMDH was transferred to Naga Hospital Authority Kohima (NHAK), while a Junior Specialist Radiologist from District Hospital Phek was transferred to IMDH.

It said that despite its request on August 24 not to release the senior specialist until a replacement joined IMDH, the doctor was released following a directive from the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare dated September 7, 2026.

The organisation maintained that the appointment of a sonologist was not what it had demanded, asserting that “nothing short of a Radiodiagnosis Specialist” would be accepted at IMDH.

The Ao Senden further claimed that none of the demands contained in its ultimatum dated September 16 had been met as of the date of its latest communication.

Expressing strong dissatisfaction with the department’s response, the apex body accused it of displaying an attitude of superiority instead of prioritising the healthcare needs of the public. It described the situation as deplorable and contrary to the department’s objective of providing healthcare services to those in need.

The Ao Senden stated that it would proceed with its own course of action from October 21 and held the department responsible for any untoward incident that might occur during the course of its action.

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