Staff Correspondent
Sri Vijaya Puram, Oct 08: Zilla Parishad Member of Rangat, Mr. Tapas Roy, has expressed concern over the lack of an official response from the authorities on the demands raised regarding the functioning and facilities of Rangat Community Health Centre (CSC), stating that the one-month deadline given to the authorities has ended without any formal communication.
Mr. Roy said that a letter containing the demands was submitted on September 7, along with a seven-day deadline for the authorities to submit a plan of action. However, no official response has been received so far. He said that although he had spoken with the local administration through the Assistant Commissioner and also with the local hospital management, there had been no formal communication from the Directorate of Health Services or the concerned higher authorities.
“If the letter had been taken seriously, at least an official reply should have been given to us,” Mr. Roy said, adding that the absence of any official response raises questions over whether the concerns of the people of Rangat are being given adequate importance.
Mr. Roy said that several demands had been raised, of which ten major demands were discussed and placed before the authorities. One of the key demands is the immediate appointment of a permanent Chief Medical Officer (CMO) at Rangat CSC. He said he had received information, though not through any official communication, that there may be no sanctioned CMO post at Rangat CSC.
He questioned how the CMO post could have ceased to exist if the facility had earlier had such an officer. He also raised concerns that if the post exists but an appointment is not being made due to a shortage of eligible doctors at the required level, the matter should be officially clarified.
On the laboratory facilities, Mr. Roy said that the biochemistry laboratory, which had earlier been non-functional, is now fully operational. However, the thyroid testing machine is yet to become functional. He said the required requisition has reportedly been sent and the local authorities have verbally assured that the facility would be restored soon, though no official communication has been received.
Regarding ultrasonography services, Mr. Roy said no official confirmation has yet been received about a roster for the facility. He pointed out that the Medical Superintendent of R.K. Hospital, Mayabunder, could also prepare a roster for providing the service, but no such arrangement has been confirmed so far.
He further said that there had been no information regarding the deployment of specialist doctors, including a gynaecologist, or the proposed monthly specialist camps at Rangat CSC. According to information available to him, the Directorate of Health Services may not have sufficient doctors to send to Rangat, but he stressed that no official correspondence had been received confirming this.
Mr. Roy also raised the issue of vacancies for a dark-room attendant, laboratory assistant and laboratory/X-ray technician for Long Island, stating that no response or information had been received regarding these requirements.
On dialysis facilities, he said the technical bid for a batch of around five to six dialysis machines has reportedly been completed and that final procurement is now awaited. According to information received through the CMO and SMO, once the procurement process is completed, one of the machines is expected to be allotted to Rangat CSC.
Mr. Roy, however, said that the availability of medicines at Rangat CSC has now improved significantly. He stated that, as of the current date, both regular and emergency medicines are reportedly 100 per cent available and patients should not have to purchase medicines from outside. He said he had personally verified the availability by visiting the pharmacy and store and had also received confirmation from the SMO and concerned officials.
He also acknowledged improvement in the overall maintenance, cleanliness and hygiene of the hospital. According to him, the hospital is presently being maintained properly and the required standard operating procedures for patients visiting the emergency department and OPD are being followed.
Mr. Roy appealed to residents who may still be facing problems regarding cleanliness, hygiene or any other hospital-related issue to share their experiences with him directly.
On the issue of a separate tuberculosis ward, Mr. Roy said that there is currently no separate infrastructure available for a dedicated TB ward. However, one of the special wards has been allocated for TB patients. He said that if the number of patients increases and additional accommodation is required, other special wards at Rangat CSC would also be utilised. He added that a separate facility could be considered if new infrastructure is created under a future arrangement or tender.
Mr. Roy said the authorities had now completed the one-month period since the submission of the letter on September 7, but all ten demands still needed to be addressed. He warned that if even one of the ten demands remained unfulfilled, he and the people of Rangat would be compelled to launch a protest.
He said another letter would likely be submitted within the next one or two days, giving the authorities a further 15-day period to respond and provide clear commitments. He said the exact course of action would be decided after a meeting of the team.
“People are busy with the Durga Puja celebrations, and I am also involved in the festivities, but social responsibilities and the issues concerning the hospital cannot be ignored,” Mr. Roy said.
He stressed that the demands were not for luxury facilities but for basic healthcare requirements that the people of Rangat should receive. “We are not asking for a blood bank or an operation theatre. We are asking for very basic facilities, and these are essential,” he said.
Mr. Roy warned that if the authorities failed to respond even after the additional notice period, he would join the people in a sit-in protest. He said the lack of an official response had created an impression among residents that the concerns of the people of North and Middle Andaman were not being taken seriously.
He maintained that access to basic healthcare facilities is a fundamental requirement for the people living in remote areas and said the authorities must address the demands without further delay.
