AGARTALA, August 6 (TIWN): In the official programme of 10th Foundation Day of Agartala Govt Medical College(AGMC) on 1st August, Chief Minister asked the AGMC authorities to introduce Moral Education in the curriculum of AGMC’s budding doctors. But Chief Minister probably didn’t have time to see that, patients in GBP Hospital and those who come here to attend them are suffering from lack of pure and uninterrupted supply of drinking water. TIWN has recently made an investigating visit in the GBP Hospital ,the so called heart of Tripura's Health Services Centre. What the team have witnessed is never going to be encouraging for the people of the state.

     One will be surprised to read that in GBP Hospital, thousands of patients and their relatives suffer from lack of pure drinking water. Everyday water is available from 9am to 7pm but after that the dream Hospital itself suffers from the shortage of drinking water. Indeed, if one visits this premiere (?) hospital of the state, he will find a water filter on which it is clearly written in Bengali script 'Porishruta Panio  JAL'. But the truth is that this filter is out of service for more than 6 months bearing the symbol of total negligence of hospital authorities and DWS authorities. Again there is another drinking water filter installed just near the stair case of Male Medical Ward (opposite of Operation Theatre). This too runs out of water after 8 pm. And all the patients as well as their relatives suffer due to lack of drinking water.

     Soon after taking the charge of Health Ministry, Health Minister Badal Choudhury categorically told the media persons," I accept that most of the Govt run hospitals have poor toilet facilities. And PWD engineers have been instructed to improve the condition. “Interestingly Badal Choudhury said that there is no shortage of funds in Health Department for maintenance and cleanliness. These words suggest that during more than past 10 years in his tenure as Health Minister Tapan Chakraborty was a complete failure. Many in Tripura and outside fear that present Industry Ministry also heading towards that direction.

      Now, situation even does not improve overnight. But people of Tripura, due to their own experience, have firm belief in the man and material management skills of Badal Choudhury as a Minister of Health. Now they expect that Badal Choudhury will take initiatives to provide uninterrupted supply of drinking water in GBP Hospital.

     Another important problem that TIWN has noticed is that, GBP Hospital has no Burn Ward. Recently in Tripura many women have suffered from burn injuries and most of the cases the victims succumb to their injuries. At this crucial juncture at least one hospital in the state should have a Burn Ward. Now whenever, a person suffers from burn injuries, he is she is shifted to the Surgical Ward of GBP Hospital. TIWN noticed that most of the burnt cases(women) are now shifted to Unit-1 of Female Surgical Ward. But this only creates panic among the already declared declared serious patients. TIWN only expects that situation will improve and that too very soon.