Apropos the news item appeared on your esteemed News paper - Andaman Chronicle dated 5/11/13, Why the hesitation? Are the private practitioners, specialized facilities available in the islands not up to the mark?

The Lt. Governor’s Relief Fund seems to be getting low when the amount is released to needy and BPL patients on the requests made by the political leaders. Perhaps this is the reason, why the Administration had to call in for donations for the LG’s Relief Fund, inviting individuals, firms etc. There have also been instances wherein relief fund provided by the Administration to BPL patients referred to mainland’s hospitals were not sufficient, such situation arises as the patients remain unaware of the ‘extra’ cost of food and lodging that comes with the treatment. Majority of islanders continue to travel to mainland for treatment and for health care needs, despite exorbitant airfares at a time when A&N Administration and the Hon’ble Lt. Governor is putting in all efforts to establish the long pending Medical College.

Through this letter I would like to humbly request the A&N Administration to recognize the Clinics/Hospitals of A&N Islands Private Practicing Doctors Association (ANIPPDA) for various specialties/ facilities they possess. After scrutiny of private clinic/ hospitals by the concerned authorities, the private doctors of our association be empanelled for re–imbursement of treatment fees for Govt. Employees and their family members who can’t afford to go to mainland, when treatment facility is not available at Govt. hospitals.

In A&N Islands many such treatments are done at private clinic/hospitals which have good infrastructure and state-of- the-art facility. Such facilities include Andrology Lab for infertility treatment, semen analysis, intrauterine insemination (IUI) facilities, sperm cryo- preservation, special new born care unit (SNCU) & all neonatal care, pacemaker, therapeutic endoscopy & banding, colonoscopy, ureteroscopy, PCNL (Percutaneous nephrolithotomy), holter, uroflowmetry, BMD (bone mineral density test), broncoscopy, Pulmonary Function Testing (PFT), biothesiometry on foot studies, polypectomy procedures, foreign body removal etc.

The private clinics/ hospitals have also modern day facilities for blood sample collection for biochemistry and histo pathological examination. Other facilities available with the ANIPPDA members are dental implants, fixed teeth (full ceramic, metal with ceramic & Nickel Chromium), Root canal treatment, implant overdentures, orthodontic treatment (fixed braces), apicocetomy, deep seated impaction (extraction of teeth), splinting, space maintainers, root planning & curettage, post core, tooth whitening, veneers, flap surgery, habit breaking appliances, cosmetic dentistry.

In homeopathy, branded medicines too are available in private homeo pharmacy. It is high time that the A&N Administration should give a choice to patients for referral in private clinics in A&N Islands.

Dr. Dinesh

General Secretary

A & N Islands Private Practicing Doctors Association.