Port Blair, Jan 30: CPI (M) has demanded to bring Specialist doctors such as Cardiologist, Neurologist, Urologist, Gastroenterologist and Nephrologists to the GB Pant Hospital/ANIIMS by offering higher pay and other facilities to provide better treatment to the islanders. In a letter sent to the Chief Secretary, A & N Administration,  Shri D. Ayyappan, Secretary, CPI (M) A & N State Organising Committee has requested the Chief Secretary to  bring a qualified Cardiologist  for GB Pant Hospital/ANIIMS, Port Blair  so that  the lives of  hundreds of cardiac patients can be saved  and given a  new ray of hope for a longer life.    

Shri Ayyappan told the Chief Secretary that the CPI (M) was forced to bring to his notice certain grave issues relating to the health care delivery in the GB Pant Hospital which is a 500 bedded referral hospital for the whole territory. This Hospital lacks Specialist doctors in Cardiology, Neurology, Gastroenterology, Nephrology, Urology etc.  due to which the patients who needed treatments on these categories are being referred to mainland Super Specialty Hospitals. Most of the patients being referred are low income group and below poverty line who cannot afford to spend huge amount in the mainland Hospitals even if they are referred from the Government GB Pant Hospital. A patient and his/her Attendant have to stay in the concerned Hospital for a minimum period of one month for treatment where besides treatment charge, they need  money for  boarding, lodging and travelling charge  and also to and fro air fares which comes in lakhs. 

CPI (M) Secretary told the Chief Secretary that people of these islands were expecting that when a Medical College in the territory is established, adequate number of qualified Specialists will be positioned and the treatment problems of the islanders will be solved forever.  But the fact remains that even after completion of eight years, the new Medical College Hospital has not started in the new premises, nor were adequate qualified Specialists positioned in the GB Pant Hospital. Reportedly, in many Departments, faculties do not exist. It has been found that those Specialists/Professors brought by the Administration on contract from mainland earlier are reportedly not taking keen interest in continuing in the ANIIMS due to lack of needed support, cooperation and encouragement from the Administration. 

 It has come to the notice of CPI (M) that  contract period of a  Doctor (Professor/Associate Professor/Asst. Professor/ Tutor) is  one year and if Administration is satisfied with his/her  performance,  the contract appointment will be extended for further period. But it is surprised to see that the assurance given to these doctors at the time of appointment is not being fulfilled by the Administration and, therefore, they are being forced to return to mainland.   It is a fact that there are shortages of Post Graduate Doctors on the mainland also and those available are being recruited by  Super Specialty Hospitals paying high perks  in various States/UTs on the mainland. Despite this, certain doctors are showing interest to come to these islands and join ANIIMS when advertisements are published in national dailies and websites of ANIIMS ignoring their personal difficulties.   Shri Ayyappan suggested that such being the position,   when these doctors take keen interest to serve in our Hospital, it is for the Administration to take utmost interest to retain them in ANIIMS at least for a period of five years by giving moral support, cooperation and encouragement and also paying higher rate of salary and allowances as they are the most experienced doctors who can teach our medical students better and also treat patients in the Hospital.   

Shri Ayyappan further drew the attention of the Chief Secfretary that an Island youth namely Dr. Srikant who is MD, DM and was earlier working in the AIIMS, New Delhi as Cardiologist had volunteered to come and serve the Islands leaving his prestigious job in Delhi.  A year ago, he has been appointed by the ANIIMS as Cardiologist on contract basis and was made in-charge of the Cardiology Department of the GB Pant Hospital.  After joining the GB Pant Hospital, Dr. Srikant made extensive progress and improvement of the Cardiology Department including ICU, handling all the Cardio cases, better diagnosis of the cases, fixation of Pace Maker and other highly skilled treatments and people of these islands were very much happy with his services.  Due to his efforts, a Cath Lab in the GB Pant Hospital was set up by the A & N Administration for the improved treatment of Cardio cases.  He was single handedly handling all the cases and even the required Technician for newly established Cath Lab was not provided.  

The said Cardiologist (on contract) has resigned from his post and proceeded to mainland as reportedly his contract has not been further extended by the Andaman and Nicobar Administration, putting a large number of heart patients and others into mental agony and  hardship. But at the same time, the Administration failed to recruit and position qualified Technician and other staff to operate the Cath Lab as a result of which the Cath Lab is not functioning at present.  It is regrettable that despite his excellent performance, the Administration failed to keep the said Cardiologist at the ANIIMS, Port Blair and now the patients having cardiac problems are suffering because of the lackadaisical attitude of the concerned authorities in  the Administration.