Nishar Mohammed & Vikramaditya
Sri Vijaya Puram, June 2: Raising concerns over the growing healthcare needs of Middle Andaman, National RTI Forum member Mr. V. Senthil Kumar has urged the Andaman and Nicobar Administration to upgrade the Community Health Centre (CHC), Rangat into a full-fledged District Hospital.
In a representation submitted to the Chief Secretary of the Andaman and Nicobar Administration, Mr. Senthil Kumar highlighted that the existing CHC caters to a large population from Rangat and surrounding villages but is struggling to meet the increasing medical requirements of the region.
According to the representation, patients are facing difficulties due to limited operation theatre facilities, inadequate diagnostic services, shortage of specialist doctors and the absence of advanced treatment facilities. The letter pointed out that many residents, including senior citizens, women, children and emergency patients, are often compelled to travel to Sri Vijaya Puram for surgeries, specialist consultations, diagnostic tests and emergency treatment.
The RTI activist stated that such travel results in additional financial burden, treatment delays and considerable hardship for patients and their families. He emphasized that healthcare infrastructure in Middle Andaman needs immediate strengthening in view of the increasing population and healthcare demands.
The representation proposed that CHC Rangat be upgraded with essential facilities including a fully functional operation theatre, CT Scan, Ultrasound, Digital X-Ray, improved laboratory services, specialist doctors, emergency and trauma care facilities, ICU services, adequate bed strength, blood bank or blood storage facilities, pharmacy services, ambulance support and sufficient medical manpower.
Mr. Senthil Kumar further noted that Rangat occupies a strategic central location and serves a large population from nearby areas. Upgrading the health centre into a District Hospital, he said, would significantly benefit residents of Middle Andaman and reduce dependence on healthcare facilities in Sri Vijaya Puram.
Appealing for urgent action, he requested the Administration to consider the proposal in the interest of public welfare and ensure improved access to quality healthcare services for residents of Rangat and adjoining regions.
It may be noted that a district in India can have more than one district-level hospital, and there is no law that restricts a district to having only one major government hospital. In several parts of the country, districts operate multiple district-level healthcare institutions to improve access to medical services. For instance, the Government of Uttar Pradesh has reported 108 district-level hospitals across its 75 districts, indicating that a number of districts have more than one district-level hospital. In this context, healthcare observers believe that the upgradation of CHC Rangat into a District Hospital, if considered by the Administration, would not necessarily conflict with the existing healthcare structure and could help strengthen medical services in Middle Andaman.
