Orthopaedic surgeon resigns from Darjeeling District Hospital for want of C-Arm machine

EOI, DARJEELING,  17 MAY 2023 : Hamro Party president Ajoy Edwards said on Wednesday he would provide funds for installing a C-arm (computer assisted radio monitoring) machine in the Darjeeling District Hospital to stop patients from being referred to expensive private nursing homes. 

On Wednesday, the HP president visited the Darjeeling district hospital but failed to meet the Chief Medical Officer of Health and the District Medical Officer. Talking to newspersons, Edwards said he wanted to reiterate the demand for installing a C-arm machine in the hospital which was raised earlier in January this year. The HP had initially raised the demand for an orthopedic surgeon in the district hospital in 2022 to help the financially weak patients who had no option but to go to private nursing homes.  

"The State Government did appoint a surgeon in December 2022. In fact, the surgeon in question did a successful hip replacement surgery in the hospital. However, the surgeon had suggested a C-arm machine to facilitate operations," said Edwards.

The HP president in January had requested the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration to fund the cost of the machine and had even offered to pitch in with half the amount. "I had offered to pay half the amount of Rs.2.5 lakhs, if the GTA found it difficult to bear the full cost. The machines cost around Rs 5 to 6 lakh each. But nothing has been done yet and people are finding it difficult to meet the cost of surgery in nursing homes," said Edwards. 

Edwards claimed that the surgeon in question had resigned with the GTA as the State Government had failed to heed his suggestion to install a C-arm machine. "The surgeon got frustrated and offered his resignation and went back home. He had to refer patients to nursing homes even though he had conducted a successful operation in the hospital with limited facilities," he said.

Edwards’ claim could not be verified as the surgeon in question and the CMOH could not be reached for their statement. However sources within the hospital did admit that the surgeon had returned back to his home. The HP leader urged the GTA to convince the surgeon to return to Darjeeling. "I will pay the full amount and order for the C-arm machine the very day the surgeon reports to duty. We have to work for the welfare of the people and not turn a blind eye to their suffering," said Edwards. 

Edwards alleged the Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha which runs the GTA was involved in corruption and cut-money.  

"The  BGPM  talks  about developing the hills and bringing in change. Yet they are oblivious to the suffering of the people. They are only interested in making money from big projects," he said. The HP president said he had sought an appointment with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who is also the Minister for Health to apprise her about the demand and the working condition in the Darjeeling District Hospital which caters to the whole hill regions.