Free blood tests halted at Kailashahar Hospital; poor patients express anger

Despite Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha’s continuous efforts to provide free and improved healthcare services across the state, many ordinary citizens are being deprived of such facilities due to the negligence of certain medical officers and health workers.

A similar situation has recently come to light at Kailashahar’s Rajiv Gandhi Memorial Hospital.

For the past three days, patients at the hospital have been unable to undergo free blood tests. Medical officers and health staff have shown little concern, resulting in growing frustration among patients seeking treatment.

Patients admitted to the hospital as well as those attending the outpatient department have been returning without having their blood samples collected since Monday( December 8^th). Many are now being forced to pay for blood tests at private laboratories outside the hospital.

When questioned about the issue, Lovely Shil, an employee of the hospital’s laboratory sample collection centre, admitted that blood samples had not been collected for the past three days. She claimed that due to an ongoing internet problem, the laboratory was unable to store or process any samples.

However, internet services throughout the Kailashahar subdivision remain fully functional, and even other departments within the hospital have not reported connectivity issues.

Mrs Shil further stated that blood samples would not be collected until the internet service in the sample collection centre was restored.

While patients are being denied free diagnostic services at this government hospital, the medical officers appear to be observing the situation silently. Many patients believe that had the medical officers taken the matter seriously, such disruption could have been avoided. Due to the hospital authorities’ indifferent attitude, economically weaker patients are facing serious difficulties.

Some patients have even alleged that the medical officer’s silence may be linked to undisclosed arrangements with private laboratory owners outside the hospital.

Rajiv Gandhi Memorial Hospital is one of the oldest hospitals in Kailashahar, located in the heart of the town. If such negligence can occur in a major town hospital, patients fear the condition of healthcare services in remote areas may be far worse.

Patients also warn that if they continue to be deprived of essential healthcare services due to the actions or negligence of certain medical officers, the government and the health department must take immediate action. Failure to do so will further damage the reputation of both the government and the health administration.