Sri Vijaya Puram, July 9: During his visit to attend the DPC meeting for North & Middle Andaman at Mayabunder, Shri Bishnu Pada Ray, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, undertook a casual visit to Dr. RP District Hospital, Mayabunder to interact with patients and assess healthcare services. The visit revealed a deeply concerning picture of administrative negligence and poor healthcare delivery.
The Member of Parliament expressed serious anguish over the deteriorating condition of the only district hospital in North & Middle Andaman. The hospital, which is supposed to cater to the health needs of a large population, is plagued by a severe shortage of specialist doctors, essential staff and non-functional infrastructure. The main issues observed includes:
Absence of a Full-Time Medical Superintendent: The post remains vacant. A senior doctor from PHC Billiground has been given additional charge but cannot manage both roles effectively due to the distance.
Shortage of Specialists: No surgeon, physician, orthopedist, or ENT specialist is posted. Only a few specialists (Gynecologist, Pediatrician, Anesthesiologist, Dentist) and four contractual MBBS doctors are serving, forcing frequent referrals to Sri Vijayapuram or the mainland.
Infrastructure Lying Idle: A new medical ward handed over in January 2025 remains non-functional. Over 30 new beds are unused. Dialysis and sterilization equipment are lying idle or rusting due to lack of operational staff.
Unsafe operation theatre: Water leakage, falling dust from the ceiling, and cracked beams pose safety risks to patients, yet no repairs have been undertaken.
Lack of monitoring: There is no regular inspection by senior health officials, and no grievance redressal system exists for patients or hospital staff.
The MP has strongly condemned this gross negligence by the Directorate of Health Services and the District Administration and demanded immediate corrective measures. He has urged the Hon’ble Lt. Governor and Chief Secretary to appoint a full-time Medical Superintendent and deploy the required specialist doctors urgently, Operationalize the new medical ward without further delay, Repair and make the Operation Theatre fully safe and functional, Fill all 39 long-pending vacancies through regular or contractual appointments, Take disciplinary action against officers responsible for this neglect, Constitute a high-level team to inspect and review all healthcare institutions in North & Middle Andaman.
Shri Bishnu Pada Ray emphasized that the people of North & Middle Andaman, as well as those in Nicobar districts, deserve access to quality healthcare like any other citizen of the country. Copies of the letter written also been sent to the Hon’ble Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah and Hon’ble Union Health Minister Shri J.P. Nadda for their kind intervention and support in resolving this serious issue.