Dr. Bezbaruah sent DPR to upgrade SMCH's infrastructure in Feb 2020, government still unresponsive

The lockdown had not even started, when Dr. Babul Bezbaruah, Principal of Silchar Medical College and Hospital had appealed to the government on February 25, 2020 for improving the infrastructure of SMCH like AIIMS or NEIGRIHMS level by sending a Detailed Project Report (DPR). The DME of the State Government’s Health Department AK Barman has been trying to work towards that goal but to no avail. Principal Dr. Babul Bezbaruah thinks if the representatives of Central Government pay a little more attention to this crisis, there is a possibility of the work being accomplished. However, despite his best efforts, the people’s representatives of the valley are displaying negligent attitude.

The deadline for the tender called for the construction of Cathlab at Silchar Medical College Hospital was on Friday. No good application was received. Meanwhile, only recently a highly skilled artist died on his way to Guwahati due to lack of neurology department at SMCH. This has irked the minds of the people again. Members of the Barak Democratic Front met with Dr. Babul Bezbaruah to find out why it happened. It turned out that Dr. Bezbaruah had sent a detailed project report in February last year. There were several demands including strengthening of the neurology, nephrology and cardiology departments of the hospital. He made it clear in his report that Silchar Medical College Hospital is the largest and most trusted medical institution in Barak Valley. This institution needs to be structurally taken to the AIIMS or NEIGRIHMS level. He made a complete map of how much time and money could be spent to make Silchar Medical College Hospital more advanced for dealing with critical health emergencies. Unfortunately, a short while after sending the DPR, the Covid lockdown started and the process came to a halt all of a sudden.

During the lockdown, a 40-bedded ICU was constructed at Silchar Medical College and Hospital and other minor improvements were made. Yet the government has unknowingly forgotten about large-scale improvements of the college cum hospital.

“After the end of the lockdown, our department has started working afresh. Not only Silchar Medical College and Hospital, but almost all the hospitals in the state are going through a diverse array of problems,” said DME Dr. A.K. Barman of the State Health Department. “Attempts have been made to bring in doctors from outside, but there are still many difficulties involved. The Health Department often consults with the Principal of Silchar Medical College Hospital and conveys his requests to the government. We have suffered a lot after issuing a tender for launching Cathlab but in the future we will not wait and the company that nods to our terms will finally build the infrastructure. It’s also very difficult to bring in specialist doctors from outside. Dr. Rakesh Pai has agreed to visit SMCH once a month. If he stays with us then others will also come forward to work. The main goal is to have a specialist in the hospital permanently which will eliminate a lot of problems.”

“Already a cardiologist has been assigned from Apollo on request from SMCH Principal. Also, govt is now in the process of procuring a Cathlab,” said DME Dr. A.K. Barman. “Regarding the upgradation of the institution, we received a PG grant from the Government of India. And some of the infrastructure has already been developed. We are still working on it.” he further added.

A delegation of Barak Democratic Front members met the Principal of Medical College Hospital. On their behalf, Pradeep Dutta Roy said, “Before elections, the incumbent political leaders are announcing the construction of one hospital after another. We want to tell them to improve the infrastructure of old hospitals before announcing new ones.”