Residents living near Dhalai District Hospital staged a road blockade on Tuesday to protest the transfer of medicine specialist Dr Gautam Debnath, expressing concern over the impact of the move on healthcare services at the district’s main hospital.
The blockade began at around 10:30 am on the Ambassa-Kamalpur road and continued for nearly two hours. The protesters withdrew their agitation following assurances from the Medical Superintendent of Dhalai District Hospital, which caused tremendous hardship for daily commuters and hundreds of passengers and goods carrying vehicles.
Dr Debnath was recently transferred to Gandacherra. News of his transfer triggered resentment among local residents, who alleged that specialist doctors were being transferred from Dhalai District Hospital one after another, raising concerns about the availability and quality of medical services.
The local people pointed out that a gynaecologist had been transferred from the hospital only recently, and the latest transfer of the medicine specialist had further heightened their concerns.
According to the protesters, the shortage of specialist doctors could adversely affect healthcare services, particularly for poor and economically disadvantaged patients who depend on the district hospital for treatment.
Demanding the intervention of the authorities, the residents blocked the Ambassa-Kamalpur road on Tuesday morning. The blockade disrupted vehicular movement and caused inconvenience to commuters.
The situation was brought under control after the hospital’s Medical Superintendent held discussions with the protesters and assured them that their concerns would be addressed. Following the assurance, the residents lifted the blockade.
However, discontent persists among local residents over the successive transfers of specialist doctors from the hospital. They have urged the authorities to ensure that an adequate number of specialists remain posted at Dhalai District Hospital to provide proper medical care to the people of the district.
It remains to be seen what steps the authorities will take in response to the residents’ concerns over Dr Debnath’s transfer and the availability of specialist healthcare services at the hospital.