A wave of public dissatisfaction has surged against the Sonabari Ghat Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Cachar district, Assam, over its alleged continuous deterioration in health services. Local citizens, alongside representatives from both the ruling and opposition parties, protested the extreme mismanagement, which they claim has been going on for a long time.
The most critical concern is the failure to maintain a 24-hour medical presence. Despite guidelines requiring a physician on duty around the clock, doctors are reportedly nowhere to be found after sunset. This negligence forces patients requiring emergency care or treatment for accident injuries to undertake the long and difficult journey to Silchar Medical College Hospital, often at great risk.
Leaders Witness Gross Neglect Firsthand
The situation escalated on Friday evening when elected representatives and political leaders rushed to the hospital to witness the conditions. Among those present were Zilla Parishad Member Raka Mazumdar, Sonai Anchalik Panchayat President Ripon Laskar, AP Member Amir Hussain Laskar, and Congress Leader Ansar Hussain Bor Laskar.
They were soon joined by former Sonai Mandal BJP President Rameshwar Sharma and Pur Member Representative Ramkrishna Nath. Upon their arrival around 8 PM, they confirmed the public’s grievances: no doctor was present, and hospital staff were absent. Only after being alerted to the leaders’ presence did a few staff members rush back to the facility.
Certificate Hassles Highlight Bureaucracy
During the inspection, BJP leader Rameshwar Sharma highlighted the bureaucratic hurdles faced by common citizens. He complained that one of his close relatives had been forced to visit the hospital repeatedly, despite submitting all required documents, to obtain a lost Death Certificate. The certificate was only hastily provided in the presence of the visiting representatives.
Demand for Ministerial Intervention and Transfer
Addressing the severity of the situation, the representatives have publicly appealed to Minister for Barak Valley Development, Kaushik Roy, and the Chief Minister of Assam. They urge the state government to immediately address the failing health service infrastructure.
The core demand from the unified group of leaders and the local public is the immediate transfer of the Hospital In-Charge, Dr. Sultan Ahmed Mazumdar, citing his failure to ensure basic services and manage the facility effectively.
