In Manipur, the healthcare system is heavily concentrated in the capital city of Imphal. Patients in Manipur who are unable to access Imphal due to ethnic divides are facing significant challenges. The state has two main government hospitals in Imphal: the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital and the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital. Additionally, top private hospitals like Shija Hospitals and Research Institute and Raj Medicity are also located in Imphal, which is predominantly Meiteis and inaccessible to the Kuki-Zomi community in the hills.
Outside of Imphal, the largest state-run hospital is the Churachandpur District Hospital, situated in a Kuki-Zomi dominated town. Despite being just an hour’s drive from Imphal under normal circumstances, doctors and patients in this hospital feel increasingly cut off from resources in the capital.
Dr. Biakdiki, a senior doctor at the district hospital, expressed the impact of the lack of resources, especially the absence of specialists. Many specialists, such as oncologists, who used to visit the hospital regularly are now based in Imphal.
Patients in need of specialized care are now forced to seek treatment outside the state, with the closest option being Aizawl in Mizoram, a challenging 12-hour drive away. Due to the lack of facilities for cardio-thoracic surgery, some patients have had to be airlifted for treatment.
The civil hospital in Kangpokpi, another Kuki-dominated area, has even fewer facilities, but residents have slightly easier access to the nearest capital, Kohima in Nagaland, which is a three-hour drive away.
However, not everyone can afford to seek treatment elsewhere. Patients like Rolianpuii, who had begun chemotherapy in RIMS Hospital in Imphal before the violence erupted, find it physically and financially challenging to travel to Aizawl for treatment. Some patients, like Chinkhoneng, have resorted to purchasing drugs and having treatment administered in Churachandpur due to the limited resources available.
The hospital in Churachandpur is facing challenges in even meeting basic needs, including the disposal of biomedical waste. The conflict has also led to the displacement of several hospital staff, further straining the limited resources available.
Lalzuiliani, a police constable who requires dialysis, has had to relocate to Aizawl to continue her treatment due to the lack of equipment and support in the local hospital. She emphasized the importance of consistent treatment and expressed uncertainty about returning until the situation is resolved.
