Assam: Patients return without treatment as doctor remains absent at Sivasagar health centre

Medical services at the Namati Ali Ayushman Arogya Mandir in Assam's Sivasagar district were severely disrupted on Saturday, June 13, after no doctor was available at the health centre, forcing several patients to return home without treatment.
 

The government-run facility, which caters to residents of around 36 villages in the greater Namati area, witnessed scenes of distress as elderly persons, women and children waited for hours in the hope of consulting a doctor.
 

According to local residents, patients who had travelled from distant areas and arrived at the health centre early in the morning were unable to receive medical attention due to the absence of any doctor throughout the day.
 

With the doctor's chamber remaining vacant, healthcare services at the centre came to a standstill. A pharmacist reportedly attended to a few patients and distributed medicines in an effort to provide some relief.
 

The incident triggered resentment among local residents, who alleged that the absence of medical personnel had become a recurring problem and demanded that the Health Department ensure uninterrupted healthcare services at the centre.
 

A team of the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) also visited the health facility and expressed concern over the absence of doctors. The student body criticised the Health Department and demanded immediate steps to address the shortage of medical staff.
 

Local residents urged the authorities to take corrective measures to ensure that patients are not deprived of essential healthcare services at the region's only government health centre.