Sri Vijaya Puram, Sept. 10: Rangalal Halder, President of the Andaman & Nicobar Territorial Congress Committee (ANTCC), has raised a serious public health concern regarding the ongoing difficulties faced by dialysis patients in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands due to the unavailability of specialist doctors for fistula creation and related procedures.
In a formal communication addressed to the Director of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands Institute of Medical Sciences (ANIIMS), Mr. Halder highlighted that the absence of visiting or resident specialists has led to severe challenges in managing fistula-related complications, a critical component of dialysis treatment.
“Previously, specialists used to visit the Islands at regular intervals to perform essential procedures such as fistula creation. However, this practice has ceased for some time now, leaving patients vulnerable and their treatment interrupted,” Mr. Halder stated. He emphasized that dialysis is a life-sustaining therapy and timely medical intervention is essential to prevent health complications and emotional distress among patients and their families.
The letter urges ANIIMS to take immediate action to either arrange regular visits by qualified specialists or to appoint a permanent vascular surgeon at the institute. Such a step, Mr. Halder believes, would ensure uninterrupted dialysis services and provide much-needed relief to affected individuals across the Islands.
Copies of the appeal have also been forwarded to the Director of Health, the Medical Superintendent, and the Secretary of Health for their information and necessary action.
Mr. Halder concluded by expressing hope for urgent intervention by the authorities to safeguard the health and well-being of dialysis patients in the Union Territory.