Agartala, July 5:
Tripura Congress MLA Birajit Sinha on Sunday strongly criticised the state government’s decision to prohibit private practice by doctors of Agartala Government Medical College (AGMC) and GBP Hospital, describing it as “impractical” and demanding that the order be reviewed immediately.
Addressing a mass sit-in organised under the banner of All India Panchayat Parishad, Tripura State Committee, outside the Circuit House in Agartala, Sinha alleged that the BJP-led state government had taken the decision without first strengthening the healthcare infrastructure at the state’s largest referral hospital.
He argued that merely banning private practice would not improve healthcare services when GBP Hospital continues to face shortages of doctors, nurses and technicians, inadequate infrastructure and long waiting hours for patients. According to him, patients often have to wait for hours to obtain medical services, while the lack of adequate operation theatre facilities has further strained treatment.
The Congress legislator claimed that the decision had particularly affected pregnant women and patients requiring specialised consultations and surgeries, creating uncertainty over the availability of doctors outside hospital hours.
Sinha also broadened his attack on the government, alleging deterioration in road infrastructure, rampant corruption in public works and growing public dissatisfaction with the BJP-led administration.
He claimed that people were becoming increasingly disillusioned with what he termed a series of “unrealistic” decisions by the government.
Referring to Sunday’s protest, Sinha alleged that several supporters travelling to Agartala were delayed after a train was held up due to a road blockade elsewhere, claiming this prevented many protesters from reaching the demonstration on time.
He said the party had requested the authorities to clear the obstruction in the interest of stranded passengers.
Demanding immediate withdrawal of the order banning private practice by AGMC and GB Hospital doctors, Sinha warned that the Congress and allied organisations would intensify their agitation if the government failed to reconsider its decision.
