Silchar, Oct 22: In what could be claimed a Red-Letter Day for Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH), much to the relief of the people of Barak Valley, acclaimed neurosurgeon Dr Sambuddha Dhar has joined the hospital as a consultant neurosurgeon on Friday.
Sharing his initial thoughts after joining, Dr Dhar who hails from the neighbouring state of Tripura said "as I understood, people of Barak Valley were looking for a neurosurgeon for a long time and this is what has attracted me to join the hospital. I shall try to live up to the expectations and deliver to the best of my abilities to treat the patients over here."
It may be mentioned that Dr Dhar completed his MBBS from JIPMER, Pondicherry, MS - General Surgery from JIPMER, Pondicherry and MCh - Neuro Surgery from Banaras Hindu University (BHU)
Expressing happiness and relief, Dr Babul Kumar Bezbaruah, principal of SMCH said, "the joining of Dr Dhar who is an MS, MCh in Neurosurgery marks the end of a prolonged wait for the people of Barak Valley and also for the hospital which is over 50 years to witness the first neurosurgeon to take charge of his duties. We are happy and relieved. Honourable Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma sir has kept his commitment for the appointment of a neurosurgeon. I had submitted a compiled report to the Government and Honourable Guardian Minister of Cachar District Ashok Singhal sir, Department of Health and Honourable Deputy Commissioner Cachar Keerthi Jalli madam took initiative and accordingly in September this year the decision taken by the State Government in its cabinet approved of the appointment of the neurosurgeon at the hospital. There have been cases mostly of road accidents, head and spine injuries and patients were dying sans treatment so far. All the treatment can be done now. We are hopeful that with the services extended by Dr Dhar and a team of doctors including a senior assistant professor, one registrar, four PG students forming a unit, without referring much of the cases depending on the intensity of particular cases coming to the hospital, we can now treat and save 80 percent of critical neurological patients the hospital."
Dr Bezbaruah was quick to inform that the OPD services on neurology will be open two days a week at the hospital, which will take at least a week to start. He also informed that with the expertise of Dr Dhar, the hospital will strive to open a course on MCH. "There was no unit of neurosurgery at the hospital. I was waiting for Dr Dhar to join. We are consulting with Dr Dhar on how to modify the OT and also on what types of equipment are necessary. Also, as the principal of the medical college, my motto is to try and open a course on MCh so that students learning at the hospital can benefit in treating patients afflicted with neurological cases," the principal maintained.
Cachar Deputy Commissioner Keerthi Jalli also shared her thoughts on this major development. "The joining of the neurosurgeon has enhanced the scope of services that the SMCH can offer to the patients of Barak Valley and also the neighbouring states as well. This has been a long-standing demand of the people here as travelling to Guwahati is a difficult proposition in times of crisis with critical cases. I thank Honourable Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma sir for following this issue so pertinently, District Guardian Minister Ashok Singhal sir also to see that the requirement gets fulfilled at the earliest," the Deputy Commissioner said.
