Balurghat Member of Parliament Sukanta Majumdar served a memorandum to the union minister of health and family welfare Dr Harsh Vardhan in Delhi for the development of the medical sector in the district, while also demanding a health facility like the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).
However, while the minister made it clear that an AIIMS like institute was not possible, he has assured initiatives for better health services in the district, according to Mr Majumdar.
The MP also informed the health minister of the present state of medical services in South Dinajpur and its potential for health tourism.
Medical facilities, in both the government and private sectors, are not very good in the district, while people have to depend on two hospitals–one in Gangarampur and the other in Balurghat.
“Even the pathology centres are not good and critical patients have to depend on the Malda Medical College and Hospital and the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital in Siliguri, or Kolkata. Patients from nearby areas like both the Dinajpurs, Murshidabad and even Jharkhand also go to these places for treatment. “I have informed the health minister of the reality of our district. The medical facility in our district is very poor. We need central assistance for developing the sector. Our demand is an AIIMS, but the minister has informed me the same is not possible at present. But he will certainly think about a central hospital or medical college for our district. I will continue my demand and hope our government will fulfil it,” Mr Majumdar said.