Diglipur, Dec. 17: The Pradhan of the Gram Panchayat Ram Krishna Gram, Shri Shyamal Bhowmik has demanded to set up an Intensive Care Unit at Community Health Centre Diglipur. In a letter addressed to the Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, Shri Shyamal said that North Andaman is a vast region, composed of Fifteen Gram panchayats with more than 55,000 Population. The lone CHC located at the R K Gram Panchayat is the only Health and well-being centre in this region, aimed to cater to the needs of the People. In the case of specialized treatment and serious illness, the Patients are referred to the GB Pant Hospital at Port Blair.

In his letter, Shyamal mentioned the miseries of the referred Patients while traveling to Port Blair by NH Road. He said the present un-motorable condition of the NH Road has made lives difficult for the people. It gives a scary thought to the patients to travel using the NH Road. The Ship Services are too not comfortable either. The very old ships lack the basic comforts required for Patients. Helicopter services are the only option for seriously ill Patients, who need immediate further specialized treatment at Port Blair, but the limited seats in the chopper compels the Medical authorities to wait for the next trip.

Strangely, the main Hospital in this part of the District does not have an Intensive Care Unit yet. At times, there are seriously ill Patients who need to be kept under continuous observation in an ICU for the diagnosis. In the absence of an ICU, the Hospital becomes helpless to provide relief to the Patients. Pradhan Shri Shyamal Bhowmik has requested the Administration to set up an ICU at the earliest in the interest of the patients.

The residents too are critical of the Health facilities being provided at the hospital. The CHC does not have an adequate number of Doctors and Paramedics. The PRIs have been demanding for long the posting of a sufficient number of general-duty Doctors and Specialists, but no positive efforts have been made by the Administration yet, which is unfortunate, a villager of the R K Gram said.