Agartala: The Left Front in Tripura on Thursday urged the state government to review its decision banning private practice by doctors of Agartala Government Medical College (AGMC) and GB Pant Hospital, alleging that the move has adversely affected patients amid shortages of doctors, healthcare staff and infrastructure.
Addressing a press conference at the CPI(M) state headquarters, senior CPI(M) leader and former minister Manik Dey said the decision was taken without adequate consultation with stakeholders and at a time when the state’s premier government hospital was already facing manpower and equipment shortages.
“The government should resolve the issue through consultation with all stakeholders. Both doctors and patients should be heard, and the decision should be withdrawn,” Dey said.
He alleged that the hospital had witnessed a sharp rise in patient load in recent days, making it difficult for doctors to manage healthcare services effectively. According to him, public dissatisfaction over medical services has increased, and the government should first strengthen infrastructure and fill vacant posts before enforcing such a policy. He also claimed that if healthcare services at the hospital had improved sufficiently, patients would naturally prefer treatment there over private clinics.
The Left Front warned that the government would be held accountable if any untoward incident occurred due to the prevailing situation in the healthcare sector.
Dey also criticised repeated revisions in electricity tariffs, alleging that domestic consumers were being burdened through higher fixed charges, meter rent and fuel charges. He said the fixed monthly charge for a one-kilowatt electricity connection had been set at Rs 70, requiring households with three-kilowatt connections to pay Rs 210 in fixed charges apart from energy consumption costs. He further alleged that changes in tariff slabs and additional levies had pushed up electricity bills.
Referring to the financial condition of the Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL), Dey claimed the utility had outstanding dues of around Rs 2,567 crore from defaulting consumers. He argued that regular bill-paying consumers should not bear the financial burden arising from the corporation’s inability to recover dues. He also questioned the outsourcing of certain power transmission activities to private agencies, alleging that the resulting expenditure was ultimately passed on to consumers through higher tariffs.
The Left Front also raised concerns over the state’s law and order situation, alleging an increase in crimes against women, drug trafficking and violent crimes. Referring to the death of a woman staff member of Shantiniketan Medical College, Dey said the victim’s family had alleged murder and expressed dissatisfaction with the investigation. He also cited the reported rape of a school student and other incidents to claim that public safety had deteriorated.
The opposition urged the government to address healthcare, electricity tariff and law and order issues through appropriate administrative measures.
