Silchar Medical College and Hospital cardiology department sans basic treatment facilities

Silchar: The angiography followed by angioplasty of the heart of the former Indian Cricket team captain and BCCI Chief Sourav Ganguli at the Woodlands Hospital of Kolkata and the report from the centre of treatment that 'all is now well with Sourav' has kicked up the questions in public and knowledgeable circles, should Silchar Medical College and Hospital after celebrating golden jubilee three years ago continue to deprive the heart patients of Barak Valley and Dima Hasao district as well as the adjoining areas of Manipur, Tripura and Mizoram of basic and necessary facilities.

In fact, a person developing symptoms of heart attack can at best get medical support of diagnosis and at best pace maker only. Not all can afford to go outside for better treatment. Quite strange, till now, no facility of angiograph and angioplasty exist in SMCH. Various social and civic organisations have been raising demand for well equipped Cardiology department. Prof. Dilip Kumar Dey, chairman of Proactive Senior Citizens' Group, said, "Our organisation has time and again raised the voice for improvement of Cardiology department and even sent memorandum to Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, Minister of Health, but of no avail."

Some hope was however raised when Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma took the initiative to have a specialised cardiologist from south for SMCH being under public pressure, following the death of a young man twenty three, Sayantan Chakraborty, of this town who suffered heart attack and died in the absence of necessary treatment. In order to keep the valley people in good humour, Dr Rakesh P. Gopal, heart specialist of Chennai, consequent to the agreement with the State government, agreed to visit SMCH three days in a month. Dr Rakesh even planned to upgrade the Cardiology department and train the attending doctors.

According to the agreement, Dr Rakesh did visit the SMCH from September to November. But, after that there was no visit by him. According to reliable source, as the agreement was not renewed, Dr Rakesh has stopped coming to the hospital here. This has come as a great disappointment to the people and the patients in general. The cases of heart patients are on ever rise. They still hope the agreement will be renewed, looking at the elections knocking at the door.

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