Ought to Patients Should Beg for Dignified Medical Transport? Why Was an 82-12 months-Previous Referred Affected person Compelled to Endure a 10-Hour Journey on a Ship With out Beds?

Tarun Karthick

Sri Vijaya Puram, 03 February 2025

Any discomfort within the human physique—be it a easy fever, a persistent cough, or perhaps a minor damage—will be distressing. Now, think about the agony of an 82-year-old diabetic coronary heart affected person, who had simply undergone a blood transfusion and urgently wanted specialised medical care, being compelled to endure a grueling 10-hour pace boat journey with no correct place to relaxation. This is just not a hypothetical situation. This is precisely what Mr. Birendra Kishore Talukdar went by way of.

His daughter, Priyanka Talukdar, introduced this alarming ordeal to mild by way of an electronic mail to the upper authorities of the Andaman and Nicobar Administration. Later, she took to the favored Facebook group ‘Digital Andaman’ to share the harrowing expertise her father goes by way of, sparking outrage amongst islanders who’ve lengthy confronted related hardships.

According to Priyanka, her father was admitted to CHC Diglipur on 1st February 2025, the place he underwent an emergency blood transfusion and a number of assessments. His well being remained fragile, and docs at CHC Diglipur referred him to GB Pant Hospital in Sri Vijaya Puram for additional care and specialised therapy. Given his state, the household requested that he be transported by helicopter. However, their request was denied on the grounds that labor sufferers are given precedence for Helicopter Travel. Instead, they have been assured {that a} mattress and medical workers can be out there on a ship.

In a merciless flip of occasions, no appropriate ship was out there. As a outcome, Mr. Talukdar was compelled to journey on M.V. Hutbay, a vessel outfitted solely with seats and chairs—fully insufficient for a critically ailing, aged affected person. Priyanka shares that her father is resting on the onerous flooring close to the seats, together with his mom’s saree serving as a makeshift sheet. The ten-hour journey would topic him to immense bodily discomfort.

Speaking to Nicobar Times, Priyanka Talukdar and her husband expressed their deep anguish. They confirmed that Mr. Talukdar would attain Sri Vijaya Puram on the morning of third February, having suffered unimaginable discomfort all through the journey.

Priyanka has since demanded rapid motion from the authorities:

• A proper rationalization for why her father, regardless of his important situation, was denied correct and comfy transportation to Sri Vijaya Puram.
• Accountability and strict motion in opposition to these answerable for this negligence.
• A agency dedication from the Directorate of Health Services to make sure no different affected person is subjected to such hardship sooner or later.

This is not only about one affected person; it’s about a whole inhabitants that continues to undergo resulting from insufficient affected person transport amenities. While the Andaman and Nicobar Administration has facilitated emergency transfers even at completely odd hours with the assistance of the Andaman and Nicobar Command, obtrusive gaps stay. Patients in want of pressing medical care mustn’t must struggle for a dignified switch.

Medical referrals shouldn’t be dictated by logistical comfort. The system should prioritize the well-being of sufferers over bureaucratic insurance policies. The alternative of transport shouldn’t be on the discretion of officers; somewhat, if a affected person requests helicopter evacuation, it ought to be offered with out hesitation. If extra helicopter sorties, diversions, or every other preparations are required, they need to be facilitated.

Islanders dwelling in distant areas shouldn’t have entry to specialised healthcare, making it the Administration’s duty to make sure that sufferers obtain snug transportation to the one tertiary care hospital within the area.

The basic query stays: ought to sufferers and their households must beg for dignified medical transport in instances of disaster? The authorities should act now to forestall such distressing experiences from taking place once more.