Lacunae in health sector discussed during budget cut-motion of Assam Assembly

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: During a cut-motion on budgetary provision for Health and Family Welfare Department, during the ongoing budget session of the Assam Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, Leader of the Opposition, Debabrata Saikia raises some issues concerning government medical institutions.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that a medical college and hospital would be established in each and every district of Assam, said Saikia. "In the recent State budget that was placed in the House, there was budget announcement for five new medical colleges and hospitals," he further said and added, "Sivasagar should have one medical college."

Saikia said that in some government health institutions, there was less number of faculty. Hence, vacant posts of faculty should be filled up. The Leader of the Opposition also pointed out that there was shortage of doctors in some government hospitals. He gave instances of hospitals where there was surgeon but no anesthesiologist. "What can the surgeon do in such a situation?" said Saikia. He urged the State Government to look into these issues seriously and take steps to resolve the issues.

Saikia also spoke about the kidney racket allegations which had surfaced recently. It was alleged that due to poverty, people were selling their kidneys for money and some dalals (agents) were involved in this racket. "The State Government must probe these allegations and the racket must be exposed. Those involved in this racket must be brought to book," said Saikia.

He added, "To donate a kidney, one has to fill 21 forms. Poor and illiterate people cannot fill all these forms on their own. So definitely some agents are involved in this. The nexus must be exposed."

All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) MLA Ashraful Hussain, while taking part in the discussion, said that there was shortage of COVID vaccine and the government must ensure that the vaccine was available in adequate number so that there was no shortage.

Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) MLA Ramendra Narayan Kalita also raised the issue of shortage of doctors in government hospitals due to which people were deprived of proper healthcare facilities. He pointed out the faculty shortage in the Government Ayurvedic College, Jalukbari. He said that unless faculty posts were filled up, the college would get de-recognized.

AIUDF MLA Aminul Islam, CPI (M) MLA Manoranjan Talukdar, BJP MLAs Prasanta Phukan and Nandita Garlosa, AIUDF MLA Nizamuddin Choudhury, AGP MLA Bhabendranath Bharali and Durga Das Boro of Bodoland People's Front (BPF) also took part in the discussion.

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