Sri Vijaya Puram, June 18: Member of Parliament from the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Shri Bishnu Pada Ray, has written to the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji, with copies to the Hon’ble Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah Ji and the Hon’ble Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare Shri J.P. Nadda Ji, seeking urgent intervention to improve the healthcare system in the Islands.
In his representation, the MP expressed serious concern over the deteriorating healthcare situation in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, particularly at GB Pant Hospital, Sri Vijaya Puram, which is the only referral hospital for the entire Islands and also serves as the teaching hospital for ANIIMS.
Shri Bishnu Pada Ray recalled that he had earlier requested the Government of India to establish an AIIMS unit in the Islands. However, the request could not be accepted as the Islands were not included under the PMSSY scheme. He had also requested that ANIIMS be brought under the administrative control or mentorship of AIIMS, New Delhi, but this proposal was also not accepted under the existing policy.
The MP stated that while these replies may be technically correct, they do not address the ground realities of the geographically isolated Islands, where people have no access to advanced tertiary healthcare facilities. He pointed out that strengthening healthcare services through routine measures alone is not sufficient to meet the growing need for specialist and super-specialist medical care.
Expressing concern over the increasing number of deaths reported during treatment in Government hospitals and repeated allegations of medical negligence in recent years, Shri Bishnu Pada Ray said these incidents have created fear and anxiety among the people and have affected public confidence in the healthcare system. He also referred to several public protests held over alleged medical negligence in different cases and emphasized the need to restore public trust through systemic improvements and greater accountability.
The MP observed that the existing healthcare infrastructure requires urgent strengthening with adequate specialist doctors, modern diagnostic facilities, critical care services and improved hospital management. He further stated that the unique geographical location of the Islands requires a separate long-term healthcare strategy.
In his letter, Shri Bishnu Pada Ray has requested the Government of India to:
-Constitute and depute an independent team of senior medical experts to assess the functioning of GB Pant Hospital, ANIIMS, District Hospitals and Community Health Centres across the Islands.
-Re-examine the feasibility of bringing ANIIMS under the mentorship, academic supervision or administrative support of AIIMS, New Delhi, or another reputed national medical institution.
-Strengthen GB Pant Hospital and other Government hospitals with specialist and super-specialist doctors, modern diagnostic facilities, intensive care units and emergency medical services.
-Prepare a comprehensive long-term healthcare development plan for the Andaman & Nicobar Islands keeping in view their unique geographical challenges.
-Fix accountability wherever administrative lapses, deficiencies or negligence affecting patient care are found.
Shri Bishnu Pada Ray stated that the people of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands deserve quality healthcare facilities comparable to those available on the mainland. He urged the Central Government to take immediate steps to strengthen the healthcare system and ensure that Islanders receive timely, safe and quality medical treatment.