Angiography Started in SMCH; “Historic day for the region,” Principal; “Sayantans of today won’t have to die,” Binayak Bhattacharjee

It was October 9, 2019, 2:04am Barak Bulletin broke the news of Sayantan Chakraborty’s death in an Ambulance on their way to Shillong for Angioplasty. It was not the first such report, nor was it the last. But the death of 25-year-old Sayantan Chakraborty, gave birth to ‘Thousand Sayantans’. Initially, it was just a WhatsApp group, now it is a movement revolutionising the Government Healthcare facilities of Silchar.

Today, member of the group, Binayak Bhattacharjee, a friend of Sayantan Chakraborty, posed for a photograph in front of the Prime Minister’s Office in Delhi. He has submitted a memorandum with the appeal for the second AIIMS in Assam to be setup in Silchar. “Today is Sayantan’s birthday and so, I wanted to submit the letter today itself, that is why I decided to fly down to Delhi from Silchar,” said Bhattacharjee.

Call it a coincidence or destiny, it is on Sayantan Chakraborty’s birthday, first ever Angiography was performed at the newly constructed Cath Lab of Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH). “It is a historic day for the region and not just Barak Valley. Dr. Rakesh Gopal and his team performed the Angiography and we are in the process of building a full fledged Cardiology team,” said Dr. Babul Bezbaruah, Principal and chief-superintendent, SMCH.

If the NGOs and groups like ‘Thousand Sayantan’ highlighted the gaps in the healthcare system, Principal Bezbaruah has always been proactive in filling them. He was transferred overnight to Silchar to bring order to a system that was murky at best and fraudulent at worse. The incumbent superintendent was sent to jail, there were gross mismatch in accounts, dal-roti was served and mutton-rice was billed for. Dr. Bezbaruah not only managed to bring order but also tackled crisis like COVID with his team that has gone on to win awards.

After his arrival, Silchar has ramped up the number of ICU beds from 8 to over hundred. PICU to over 20. He has made special arrangements to make way for young doctors like Neurologist, Sambuddha Dhar. In fact, it was in his tenure the first Neurosurgery was performed and today, the first Angiography has been performed by Dr. Rakesh P Gopal, who, as a part of special arrangement again facilitated by Bezbaruah’s administration, visits as Consulting Cardiologist.

“It is because the former Health Minister, who is now the Chief Minister of Assam Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, all this has been possible. He has approved all the proposals we have met him with and it is because of the government’s support, we could ramp up the infrastructure. Today, it is a dream come true moment for us and I am sure for the people of Barak Valley, this is great satisfaction as it was a long standing demand,” adds Dr. Babul Bezbaruah.

Binayak Bhattacharjee says it is great that these changes have been done to the SMCH. “If these were done before Sayantan’s death, he would have been alive today. That remains a regret, however, it is a great feeling to know that Sayantans of today won’t have to die because of lack of facilities,” he adds.

Bhattacharjee highlights that there are many facilities that are still unavailable in Silchar Medical College and Hospital and society is unaware about them. There was hardly any mass discourse about “Cath Lab” before the death of Sayantan Chakraborty. “I am surprised that no one actually spoke about the need gaps. We need to learn more about the gaps and then amplify them in all possible manner. Only then there will be change. I thank the government for being supportive all throughout and living up to the expectations.” he concludes.