Assam Govt. announces appointment of interventional cardiologist Tirthankar Roy; Will work out of SMCH

Through a Governor’s notification, it has been announced that Government of Assam is pleased to appoint Dr. Tirthankar Roy, DM, (Cardiology), as Assistant Professor, Department of Cardiology, Jorhat Medical College & Hospital.

To the relief and delight of the people of Barak Valley, the notification adds that Roy will be allowed to work at Silchar Medical College & Hospital under Regulation 17A of the Medical & Health Recruitment Board (Amendment) Regulations for a period of 4(four) months with effect from the date of joining.

It is worth mentioning here that the Principal of Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH), Dr. Babul Bezbaruah had send a proposal to the Government to make a window for Roy to work out of SMCH. On July 12, angiography was performed in the newly opened Cath Lab in SMCH. Dr. Rakesh P Gopal, who travels once a month from Chennai with his team performed 11 angiography sessions that went on till 1:30 am.

However, it was just for one day. Once Dr. Gopal returned, there was again a roadblock, al least till the time he returns for another session. Tirthankar Roy’s appointment in JMCH and deployment in SMCH will fill that gap. Dr. Roy is an interventional cardiologist.

Interventional cardiology is a non-surgical option which uses a small, flexible tube called a catheter to repair damaged or weakened vessels, narrowed arteries, or other affected parts of the heart structure. An interventional cardiologist is a cardiologist with one to two years of additional education and training in diagnosing and treating cardiovascular disease as well as congenital (present at birth) and structural heart conditions through catheter-based procedures, such as angioplasty and stenting.

Earlier, patients in need of angioplasty were referred to Guwahati or Shillong. Thousands have died in ambulance on the way to the state capital. One such unfortunate death was of young Silchar-boy, Sayantan Chakraborty. After his death, his friends formed a group called ‘Thousand Sayantans’ and went from pillar to post in demand of better healthcare facilities in Silchar Medical College and Hospital that caters to 40 lakh people in Barak Valley and residents of neighbouring states.