Nishar Mohammed & Vikramaditya
Sri Vijaya Puram, Nov. 14: A serious concern over the declining healthcare standards at GB Pant Hospital has been raised by Mr. Angshuman Roy, State Youth President of Hindu Rashtra Shakti, who has written a detailed letter to the Lt. Governor of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, urging immediate intervention in what he described as a “critical healthcare crisis.”
Quoting the letter addressed to the Lt. Governor, Mr. Roy stated that a recent circular issued by GB Pant Hospital has revealed that “essential anaesthetic drugs have been completely exhausted, leaving only minimal quantities available solely for emergency procedures.” He added that due to this shortage “all elective surgeries have been suspended indefinitely,” creating a potentially dangerous situation for patients requiring urgent medical care.
In the letter, Mr. Roy described the development as “deeply alarming,” stating that the shortage reflects a “serious administrative lapse in essential drug procurement and hospital management.” He further warned that such failures not only endanger patients’ lives but also undermine public trust in the premier government hospital of the islands.
Highlighting the importance of GB Pant Hospital as the backbone of tertiary healthcare in the Union Territory, he wrote that a disruption involving life-saving anaesthetic medicines indicates “systemic issues that require immediate rectification.” He urged the Administration to investigate the root causes, fix accountability, and ensure that similar lapses do not recur.
Mr. Roy also criticised the existing GEM portal procurement system for medical equipment and medicines, stating in his letter that the system has “proven grossly ineffective due to delays, procedural bottlenecks, and lack of responsiveness.” He strongly requested that the GEM-based procurement system be withdrawn for medical items and replaced with a more efficient, health-oriented procurement mechanism.
Referring to the impact on patients, he wrote that individuals whose surgeries or treatments cannot be carried out due to the crisis “must not suffer.” He urged that such patients be immediately shifted to private hospitals with the entire cost of treatment borne by the Administration or GB Pant Hospital, ensuring that no financial burden falls on the public.
In his appeal for urgent action, Mr. Roy requested the Lt. Governor to order an immediate inquiry into the mismanagement that led to the stock-out of anaesthetic drugs, ensure rapid procurement of essential medicines, strengthen the drug supply chain, remove the GEM procurement system for medical items, and upgrade treatment standards at GB Pant Hospital. He also called for strict administrative measures to prevent future lapses that could compromise public health.
Concluding his letter, Mr. Roy emphasised that the citizens of Andaman & Nicobar Islands depend heavily on GB Pant Hospital and that it is the Administration’s responsibility to safeguard public health and uphold healthcare standards. He expressed hope for “prompt and decisive intervention” in this matter of urgent public importance.
