A dentist at Morigaon Civil Hospital has acknowledged that basic dental procedures like tooth extraction are currently not being performed within the hospital premises due to lack of proper infrastructure.
Dr. Pradip Kumar Sarkar, the designated dental surgeon at the hospital, has reportedly been referring all patients requiring treatment to a specific private pharmacy in Morigaon town, where he continues to offer dental services on a routine basis.
Despite the hospital housing a dental cabinet, Dr. Sarkar stated that the absence of essential dental equipment has rendered the unit inoperative. As a result, he claims to have no alternative but to attend to patients at the privately-run pharmacy.
This practice came to light when a young man seeking a tooth extraction at the hospital was redirected to the private establishment by the doctor himself.
The incident raises serious questions about the state of public healthcare facilities, especially when governments at both state and central levels repeatedly emphasize health sector reforms and infrastructure improvement.
Public health experts have expressed concern over such dependencies on private infrastructure by government-appointed medical professionals, suggesting it may blur ethical boundaries and risk patient affordability and accessibility.
Authorities are yet to issue an official response regarding the matter.