MLA Koushik Roy urges the state to declare the 134-year-old Labac Hospital a heritage site and upgrade its facilities.
MLA Koushik Roy urges the state to declare the 134-year-old Labac Hospital a heritage site and upgrade its facilities. Established in 1890 in the Labac tea garden of Cachar district, this hospital has played a significant role in the region’s healthcare.
MLA Koushik Roy emphasized the historical importance of Labac Hospital, where Nobel Prize-winning scientist Dr. Ronald Ross conducted pivotal research on malaria. During his one-year stay at the hospital, Dr. Ross made groundbreaking discoveries about malaria transmission. His original microscope and other research tools are still preserved at the hospital, highlighting its rich history.
Before the establishment of Silchar Medical College and Hospital in 1968, Labac Hospital was the primary healthcare provider for the districts of Cachar, Karimganj, Hailakandi, and even neighboring states like Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura. Despite its age, the hospital remains a crucial healthcare facility for tea garden workers today, with its outpatient department serving nearly 20,000 patients annually.
Dr. Ross’s research at Labac Hospital was conducted during a time when tropical diseases like malaria, viral fever, tuberculosis, and typhoid were widespread. His discovery in 1892 that malaria is spread by the bite of the female Anopheles mosquito was a major advancement in medical science. The hospital’s laboratory still maintains the medical instruments and sketches Dr. Ross used, preserving his legacy.
However, the hospital’s infrastructure has deteriorated significantly over the years. MLA Koushik Roy believes that declaring Labac Hospital a heritage site and enhancing its facilities would honor its historical contributions and continue to serve the community effectively.