John Wilbert & Vikramaditya
Port Blair, June 01: The District Hospital of Nicobar, BJR Hospital of Car Nicobar, and other healthcare centers in the Nicobar Islands continue to grapple with a shortage of specialist doctors, such as Gynaecologists, Paediatricians, and Ophthalmologists, despite years since their establishment. This has prompted residents, particularly those in Nancowrie village, to demand regular visits from specialist doctors for better healthcare access.
The absence of an adequate number of specialist doctors in the region has posed significant challenges for residents in remote Islands. The lack of proper treatment during emergencies is a harsh reality faced by many, leaving them with no choice but to travel all the way to Port Blair in search of expert care.
In the Nancowry Group of Islands there are CHC Nancowrie, PHC Katchal, and PHC Teressa. Unfortunately, despite having these healthcare centers, the absence of specialist doctors has forced villagers to seek consultation and treatment in Port Blair.
Mrs. Ayesha Majid, the chief of the Nancowry Tribal Council, has emphasized the urgent need for regular visits by specialist doctors to Nancowrie islands. She stressed that the administration should schedule visits in advance to provide timely healthcare services to the villagers. Minor injuries often necessitate trips to Port Blair hospitals, causing inconvenience and financial strain for the residents.
Efforts to obtain a statement from the health service officials regarding the shortage of specialists were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.
