Nursing shortage at Assam hospital puts patient care under strain ahead of medical college launch

Patients seeking injections at Abhayapuri State Hospital in Assam’s Bongaigaon district were reportedly forced to return without treatment after no nurse was available at the facility during the night, raising questions over healthcare preparedness in the district ahead of the opening of Bongaigaon Medical College.

The incident took place on the night of October 3, just two days before Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is scheduled to inaugurate the medical college on October 5.

According to the doctor on duty, the hospital has five nurses. One of them has been on leave for personal reasons since October 1. Another nurse, Supriya Adhikari, was assigned night duty but left the hospital around 10 pm, citing safety concerns over staying alone as the only nurse on duty.

The doctor said similar instances of the hospital having no nurse available during night hours had been reported over the past three days.

The absence of nursing staff meant patients who arrived at the hospital for injections could not receive the required treatment and had to return without care. The doctor on duty also acknowledged that the shortage could affect the hospital's ability to provide emergency services.

The incident has raised concerns among local residents over staffing and basic healthcare services at the state-run hospital, particularly as Bongaigaon prepares to add a medical college to its healthcare infrastructure.

The situation has also brought renewed attention to allegations of irregular attendance among nursing staff at Abhayapuri State Hospital and the need for adequate personnel to ensure uninterrupted patient care.