Who is Accountable? TRIHMS Crisis Exposes Healthcare Management Failures

Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh; September 14, 2025

Arunachal Pradesh is facing a deepening crisis at the Tomo Riba Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (TRIHMS), where public dissatisfaction and concerns from medical staff are rising due to what many consider mismanagement and lack of accountability. The core problem: the acting director, Dr Moji Jini, is reportedly holding the post unlawfully—since his official retirement on August 31, 2021—despite state government rules banning service extension beyond retirement. This has become a flashpoint for criticism from both citizens and healthcare workers. Patients and medical staff alike complain of staffing shortages, especially in specialist fields and nursing support. Because of the director’s extended unofficial tenure, questions are being raised about who is responsible for strategic decisions, staff appointments, and policy implementation. The imbalance between doctor/nurse numbers and patients is stark. While Arunachal has reduced its shortage of general doctors notably in recent years, large gaps remain—particularly in specialists and ensuring sufficient nursing staff. The dispute has eroded public trust: many feel that even minor issues in the hospital—long waiting times, delays in treatment, poor hygiene or resource constraints—are symptoms of a broken leadership and chain of command. Staffers say that with unclear oversight, no direct official responds when problems are raised. For patients, the uncertainty adds anxiety on top of health concerns. Healthcare experts warn that unless the management structure is clarified, and unless a competent director or leadership empowered under proper rules is appointed, these systemic issues will continue. They argue this is not just about one hospital; TRIHMS is one of the state’s premier institutions, and its crisis reflects wider governance, human resource, and public healthcare accountability problems. Arunachal Times Officials have not yet responded publicly with a detailed corrective plan. Meanwhile, medical staff are reportedly divided—some push for interim arrangements; others want regulatory enforcement and possibly oversight by external agencies or audits. For many in Arunachal, this is more than a hospital problem—it’s about whether institutions meant to safeguard citizen health can be transparently managed, staffed properly, and held responsible when they fail.