Sri Vijaya Puram, June 17: Mr. G. Bhasker, Chairman, Campaign Committee, ANTCC, has urged the Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, to take immediate steps for the appointment of a qualified Cardiologist at G.B. Pant Hospital, expressing serious concern over the absence of specialist cardiac care in the Islands.
In a letter addressed to the Chief Secretary, Bhasker pointed out that following the departure of Dr. Srikant, who was serving as the Cardiologist at G.B. Pant Hospital, the Islands are presently without a senior specialist to attend to patients suffering from heart ailments, heart attacks, cardiac arrests, and other life-threatening cardiac emergencies.
He stated that G.B. Pant Hospital is the principal referral hospital for the people of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the non-availability of a Cardiologist has created a major gap in healthcare services. During emergencies, patients are often referred to hospitals in the mainland for advanced treatment. However, owing to the geographical isolation of the Islands and the time required for medical evacuation, such referrals frequently prove inadequate during critical situations, placing patients’ lives at risk.
Bhasker further noted that the number of heart-related ailments has been steadily increasing in the Islands, making the availability of specialist cardiac care an urgent necessity. He expressed concern that patients suffering from severe cardiac conditions are unable to receive timely specialist intervention due to the absence of a Cardiologist.
Referring to a recent incident, Bhasker stated that Smt. Sumitra Das, aged 53 years and a resident of Ferrargunj, reportedly passed away at around 4:00 a.m. on June 16 while undergoing treatment in the ICU of G.B. Pant Hospital. He said the unfortunate incident has further intensified public concern regarding the availability of specialized cardiac treatment facilities in the Islands.
Describing the situation as alarming, Bhasker urged the Administration to immediately appoint a Cardiologist at G.B. Pant Hospital and strengthen cardiac care facilities so that patients suffering from heart ailments can receive timely treatment and avoidable loss of lives can be prevented.
