Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 10 July 2025
During his recent visit to Mayabunder for the District Planning Committee (DPC) meeting of North & Middle Andaman, Shri Bishnu Pada Ray, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, conducted a surprise inspection of Dr. R.P. District Hospital. His visit uncovered alarming lapses in healthcare services and infrastructure, prompting the MP to raise a red flag over what he described as “gross administrative negligence.”
The MP expressed deep concern over the deteriorating condition of the region’s only district hospital, which caters to a vast population across North & Middle Andaman. His assessment revealed critical shortages in specialist doctors, essential staff, and the underutilization of key infrastructure.
Major Concerns Raised by the MP:
• No Full-Time Medical Superintendent: The post has been vacant for a prolonged period. A senior doctor from PHC Billiground currently holds additional charge, but logistical constraints make it difficult to manage both responsibilities effectively.
• Shortage of Specialist Doctors: The hospital lacks a surgeon, physician, orthopedist, and ENT specialist. Only a few specialists — including a gynaecologist, paediatrician, anaesthesiologist, and dentist — are available, supported by four contractual MBBS doctors. This leads to frequent patient referrals to private facilities in Sri Vijaya Puram or the mainland.
• Non-Functional Infrastructure: A newly built medical ward, handed over in January 2025, remains unused, with over 30 beds lying idle. Dialysis and sterilisation equipment are reportedly rusting due to lack of staff.
• Unsafe Operation Theatre: Structural issues, including water leakage, falling dust from the ceiling, and cracked beams, have rendered the operation theatre unsafe. No repairs have been carried out so far.
• Lack of Oversight: The hospital reportedly suffers from an absence of regular inspections by senior officials and has no grievance redressal mechanism for patients or staff.
Terming the situation “deeply troubling,” Mr. Ray criticized the Directorate of Health Services and the District Administration for their failure to ensure basic healthcare standards. He has urged the Hon’ble Lt. Governor and the Chief Secretary to take swift action.
Demands Put Forth by the MP:
• Immediate appointment of a full-time Medical Superintendent
• Deployment of the required specialist doctors
• Operationalisation of the new medical ward without delay
• Urgent repairs to make the operation theatre safe and functional
• Filling of 39 long-pending staff vacancies on a regular or contractual basis
• Disciplinary action against responsible officers
• Formation of a high-level team to inspect all healthcare facilities in North & Middle Andaman
The MP has also written to the Hon’ble Union Home Minister Mr. Amit Shah and Union Health Minister Mr. J.P. Nadda, seeking their intervention to resolve what he described as a serious healthcare crisis.
Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray reiterated that the people of North & Middle Andaman — and indeed the entire UT — deserve access to quality healthcare at par with the rest of the country.
