Assam: Blood sample goes missing at Nagaon Medical College, raises concerns over patient safety

A blood sample of a teenage patient reportedly went missing at Nagaon Medical College, the only medical college in Central Assam, prompting serious concerns about medical negligence and patient safety at the institution.

The incident came to light when the family of a teenage girl from Morongial, admitted to the hospital two days ago with severe health issues, questioned the delay in receiving her blood test results. Despite submitting the sample on the first day as per the doctor's instructions, no results were provided even by the second day.

When confronted, the medical staff responsible for collecting the blood initially gave evasive responses but later admitted that the sample had been lost from the laboratory. A second sample had to be collected from the patient to proceed with the necessary tests.

The mishap has sparked criticism from the patient's family and raised broader concerns about procedural lapses at the medical institution. “If a blood sample can’t be kept secure in a medical college, how can people trust such a place for health checkups or treatment?” questioned a family member.

This incident is not the first to cast a shadow on hospital practices in government-run healthcare institutions. However, such negligence at a reputed medical college has intensified public scrutiny, with calls for accountability and improved internal protocols.

Hospital authorities have yet to issue an official statement on the matter. Meanwhile, the patient continues to receive treatment while awaiting the results of the re-collected blood sample.