Staff Correspondent
Mayabunder, Feb. 25: A day after the helicopter accident off the coast of Mayabunder, serious concerns have been raised regarding the condition of health services at R.P. District Hospital, Mayabunder. Among the injured was Smt. Nambi Amma, a retired teacher from the Education Department and a resident of Rampur, Mayabunder, who was admitted to the hospital following the mishap.
According to sources, Smt. Nambi Amma was referred to Sri Vijaya Puram at around 3 pm today for further treatment. However, it is learnt that the District Hospital did not have a proper ambulance readily available at the time of referral to carry the serious patient, causing distress to the patient and her family.
According to Mr. Anand Raj, Up Pradhan of Rampur village, eventually, the ambulance of Kalighat was brought to Mayabunder to shift the patient to Sri Vijaya Puram, which again had a flat tyre. This is a shame that the District Hospital of Mayabunder doesn’t have a proper ambulance to shift a serious patient to Sri Vijaya Puram in an emergency.
The incident has once again brought the spotlight on the infrastructure and manpower constraints at R.P. District Hospital, the largest referral hospital catering to the population of North and Middle Andaman. Local residents have expressed concern that despite frequent referrals to G.B. Pant Hospital in Port Blair, patients and their families often remain uncertain about the availability of facilities and specialists.
Former Pramukh of Mayabunder, Mr. Abdul Siddique told Andaman Sheekha Daily that the R.P. District Hospital at Mayabunder is in a very poor condition. There is a severe shortage of doctors, nurses and staff. Patients are being referred almost every day. But even after referral to G.B. Pant Hospital, common people are not confident about receiving proper treatment. It is also being heard that the Operation Theatre in G.B. Pant Hospital is currently non-functional. When patients are referred from here they are left uncertain about whether they will receive proper care at G.B. Pant Hospital, as there is very little information or guidance available to them.
“At Mayabunder, there is an acute shortage of doctors and nurses. Only two or three GDMOs are managing OPD, emergency cases, and admitted patients,” he said.
Mr. Abdul Siddique added that in yesterday’s helicopter accident at Mayabunder, you can understand the kind of situation that existed at the site in R.P. District Hospital. In such circumstances, several injured patients arrive at the same time. The doctors cannot ignore seriously injured patients in an accident case. They have to attend to the critical patients first.
Meanwhile, patients waiting in OPD become anxious and sometimes aggressive, asking why doctors are not available. The reality is that one or two doctors cannot perform the duties of many. This request has been made several times to the concerned authorities.
He questioned “If all facilities can be provided at the newly constructed Garacharma District Hospital near Port Blair, which is only about 15–20 kilometres away from G.B. Pant Hospital, then why are the people of North and Middle Andaman, who are 250 to 350 kilometres away from Port Blair, deprived of similar basic facilities?”
“We urgently need at least a General Surgeon and an Anaesthetist. The tenure of the previous anaesthetist has already ended. The process for replacement should be initiated well in advance so that there is no gap. However, the present system involves delays in file movement, fresh calls, advertisements, and approvals, which sometimes take months or even a year. This system needs improvement,” he added.
According to him there is also concern that if such gaps continue, any unfortunate incident may occur in the hospital. When a patient is admitted, the emotions of family members are deeply involved with the patient. In tense situations, misunderstandings or unwanted incidents may happen. The hospital staff are doing their best, and they are also human beings but they are overburdened and helpless due to the shortage of manpower.
Therefore, he requested the Andaman and Nicobar Administration and the Director of Health Services to look into this matter urgently and provide all necessary facilities, specialists, and adequate staff at the District Hospital, Mayabunder, which is the largest hospital serving the people of North and Middle Andaman.
