Nishar Mohammed
Sri Vijaya Puram, Jan. 6: The TSG Foundation today announced the launch of a dedicated medical stay facility for patients travelling from North & Middle Andaman and Nicobar Islands to Port Blair for treatment, addressing a long-standing gap in post-referral care and accommodation.
Addressing a press conference, TSG Foundation Chairman, Mr. TSG Bhaskar said the initiative was conceived after witnessing repeated hardships faced by patients referred to mainland hospitals and medical centres in Sri Vijaya Puram, particularly under existing health schemes. He highlighted that many patients and their attendants struggle with accommodation, food, and post-operative care after discharge, as current government schemes largely cover only treatment costs.
Mr. Bhaskar elaborated on the differences between earlier referral schemes and the Ayushman Bharat scheme, stating that while earlier schemes provided end-to-end coverage including travel, stay, investigations, surgery, and post-operative care, Ayushman Bharat largely limits coverage to treatment alone. As a result, patients from remote islands often incur significant out-of-pocket expenses for investigations, accommodation, food, and return travel.
He further pointed out that patients referred from places such as Car Nicobar and North & Middle Andaman often arrive in Port Blair without any institutional support system. With hospital beds under pressure and the number of dialysis and critical care patients increasing, discharged patients are frequently left to manage on their own, causing severe financial and emotional distress to families.
To address this issue, the TSG Foundation has purchased a 190-square-metre plot of land located approximately 750 metres from GB Pant Hospital. Construction of the facility is expected to begin shortly, with one block likely to be completed within eight to nine months.
Once operational, the facility will have 11 rooms accommodating up to 22 patients, a common kitchen, and a large community hall on the second floor to support group living, particularly for patients from Nicobar who prefer community-based accommodation.
The facility will be managed independently by a dedicated committee, with the TSG Foundation providing guidance and support. A nominal daily maintenance charge is proposed to cover housekeeping and operational expenses.
Appealing for public support, Mr. Bhaskar said the project would rely on collective contributions and expressed confidence that the facility would become fully functional within 10–11 months, offering much-needed relief to patients and their families across the Islands.
