SILCHAR, July 26 - At a time when the State Government is flooding crores of money for the development of health infrastructure in the government-run hospitals and opening of new medical colleges in many parts of the State, 12- year-old Ajay Rabi Das suffering from intra-cerebral hemorrhage(bleeding in the brain) is battling with life and his parents are hopping from one hospital to another to save him.
Chandan Rabidas, uncle of Ajay while speaking to this correspondent informed that he along with Motilal Rabi Das and Dhanmoni Rabi Das, the parents of Ajay had brought him to SMCH on July 21 for emergency neurological treatment but they were reminded of the fact that the hospital does not have a neurological department and a neurosurgeon. Later, on seeing a steep deterioration in his health, Ajay had to be shifted to Valley Hospital and is being presently kept under observation, Chandan informed.
�We know that the patient needs to be referred to the Neurology Department of Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GNCH) as soon as possible to save his life. But Ajay�s parents are financially inefficient to bear the expenses. Also there is great risk involved in travelling via the deplorable roads,� Chandan said.
The Silchar Medical College which was established in 1968, is one of the oldest State-run medical colleges set up to cater to the health of the people not only of South Assam but also for people from Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura. But the present case has once again refreshed the agony of the people seeking better treatment in the government hospital in a landlocked valley. At the SMCH, buildings are repaired and renovated. New buildings have also been constructed. But there is no trace of the Neurological department.
It is to be recalled that in 2011, Mithan Paul (27) suffered brutal injuries in a road accident and died as there is no Neurological department and a neurosurgeon in Silchar Medical College.
Asked about the situation, Dr MK Dey, Superintendent of SMCH said that over the years several memorandums have been sent to the State Government to open a Neurology department at the SMCH. But there has been no action taken as yet on the appeals. �We understand what people are going through due to the lack of an important department such as Neurology. But no neurosurgeon is interested to serve in the hospital. The Government must instruct the qualified neurosurgeons passing out from GMCH to serve at the SMCH so that such critical cases could be addressed,� Dr Dey was quoted as saying.
Meanwhile, Biplab Goswami, general secretary of Grahak Suraksha Samiti has said that it is a clear case of negligent attitude on the part of the Government and the SMCH authorities. �If the Government gives formal appointment to a neurosurgeon to serve here at the SMCH, there is no question of availability of doctors,� Goswami maintained.
Satadal Acharjee, a social activist said that they have been raising demands for a neurological unit at SMCH. But the Government is least interested in such a unit to be opened here. Further, he said that neuro specialists who hail from Barak valley settled in other parts of the country must come here to serve the needy.
