“Will discuss the issue of Cardiologist with Govt”: Commissioner & Secretary, Health Anurag Goel in Silchar to take stock of preparedness

Anurag Goel, Commissioner & Secretary to the Govt. of Assam, Health & F.W is in Silchar to take stock of Barak Valley’s preparedness to combat the coronavirus-led pandemic. The visit comes after constant criticism of healthcare infrastructure in Silchar especially Silchar Medical College and Hospital.

“Like every healthcare system, there are certain loopholes here too and we have given direction to rectify the shortcomings. I am here for three to four days and in this period, we will look at areas of improvement,” said Goel while speaking to Barak Bulletin.

Goel’s visit to Silchar was also linked with the proposed lockdown in the Cachar district. A section of the population believes that Goel is here to inspect the situation and advise the government on the proposed lockdown. It is worth mentioning here that Chief Secretary of Assam, Kumar Sanjay Krishna confirmed it to Barak Bulletin that his office has received the proposal from DC Cachar and is now waiting to hear from the Health Department. “My visit has got nothing to do with the lockdown and it is something that the chief secretary will decide. The honourable Minister has sent me here to check the situation and identify the areas where we can improve and that is why I am here,” said Goel.

Goel said he is also here to check how the capacity could be ramped up in Silchar. The department of health will start using NIT and Assam University as COVID Case Centres which will add 600 beds to the arsenal. There is a rumour that Goel will survey Jeevan Jyoti Hospital in Meherpur to see if that could be used as a COVID Hospital. The Hospital located in a multi-storey building is one of the most sophisticated ones in the Northeastern region. “There are some private hospitals that have offered their buildings to the government. There are few who expressed their interest to treat COVID patients in a paid model, we have not taken any decision on this so far,” the commissioner and secretary added.

Within the next 20 days, the department intends to ramp up the ICU capacity too. Silchar Medical College and Hospital, according to DC’s letter to the Chief Secretary, has 14 beds in the COVID ICU and all of them are occupied.

Former MP Sushmita Dev, a delegation from “Thousand Sayantans” met Goel to submit memorandums demanding the appointment of Cardiology in Silchar Medical College and Hospital. Chennai based, Dr. Rakesh P Gopal has agreed to check patients at SMCH once in a month for free, but that proposal is yet to be cleared by the Health Department. “Will discuss the issue of Cardiologist with the government,” concluded Goel.