Healthcare Crisis in Andaman and Nicobar Islands: A Call for Systemic Reforms
The Unmet Needs of Island Dwellers
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a Union Territory in the Bay of Bengal, face a daunting healthcare crisis. The State Youth President of Hindu Rashtra Shakti, Mr. Angshuman Roy, has submitted a detailed representation to the Member of Parliament, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, highlighting the urgent need for parliamentary intervention. The organisation’s concerns stem from the fundamental right to life of every resident of the Islands, which is being compromised due to the unique challenges posed by geographical isolation.
A Crisis of Clinical Efficacy and Quality
The memorandum submitted by Mr. Roy reveals that doctors at GB Pant Hospital, the only tertiary referral hospital in the Islands, have raised serious concerns regarding the clinical efficacy and quality of Noradrenaline infusion supplied for critically ill patients. The organisation alleges that the quality assurance testing and verification of cold-chain maintenance are lacking, posing a threat to patient care and lives. Furthermore, a chronic shortage of essential emergency medicines required for the treatment of cardiac arrests, cerebrovascular accidents, seizures, and shock has been reported, affecting patient care and putting lives at risk.
The GB Pant Hospital: A Special Responsibility
As the only tertiary referral hospital in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, GB Pant Hospital has a special responsibility in providing quality medical care to patients. However, the hospital’s infrastructure, sanitation, cleanliness of wards, and quality of food provided to in-patients have been compromised due to the lack of regular inspections by senior officers of the Administration. Mr. Roy has alleged that the absence of top-level administrative oversight has adversely affected patient welfare, calling for greater accountability.
A Constitutional Obligation
The memorandum refers to the Supreme Court judgment in Paschim Banga Khet Mazdoor Samity vs State of West Bengal (1996), stating that timely emergency medical treatment is part of the fundamental right to life guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution. The organisation has also cited provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, contending that the quality and storage of medicines supplied to government hospitals must strictly comply with statutory standards.
Seeking Parliamentary Intervention
The Hindu Rashtra Shakti has requested the Member of Parliament to raise the issue in Parliament and pursue a series of measures with the Government of India. These include a time-bound high-level inquiry into procurement procedures, storage conditions, quality assurance mechanisms, and recurring shortages of life-saving medicines. The organisation has also sought investigation into allegations of administrative negligence and requested ex-gratia compensation for families if any preventable deaths are found to have occurred due to the non-availability of essential medicines.
A Call for Systemic Reforms
The representation submitted by Mr. Roy has made several demands, including the establishment of a permanent healthcare monitoring and audit committee under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, regular surprise inspections of government hospitals, introduction of a transparent digital monitoring system for essential medicines, mandatory third-party laboratory testing of critical drugs, and strict accountability for officials responsible for negligence in procurement and hospital administration. The organisation has also urged the Government to formulate a special healthcare strengthening package for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, focusing on emergency care, critical care facilities, specialist manpower, procurement systems, logistics, and patient referral mechanisms.
A Hope for Timely and Accessible Medical Care
Concluding the memorandum, Mr. Roy has appealed to the Member of Parliament to take up the matter with the Government of India, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and the Ministry of Home Affairs. He has expressed hope that parliamentary intervention will lead to transparent, accountable, and efficient healthcare services in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, ensuring that every islander deserves timely, accessible, and quality medical care.