Diphu: In the remote hills of Assam’s Karbi Anglong district, a healthcare crisis is unfolding, leaving the indigenous population vulnerable and desperate for medical attention.
The situation is dire, with numerous Medical Sub-Centres lying dormant due to a crippling shortage of staff, inadequate infrastructure, and a severe lack of medical equipment.
Cheksolangso Medical Sub-Centre, which covers seven villages, is a stark example of this neglect. With only two nurses and no doctor, the sub-centre is unable to provide even basic healthcare services. To make matters worse, the two nurses are not regular in their duties, visiting the sub-centre only 2-3 days a week.
The consequences of this gross neglect are dire. Burasing Tisso, a 58-year-old man from one of the villages, was forced to travel 12 kilometers to get a painkiller because it was not available at the sub-centre. This is not an isolated incident, as many residents of the seven villages covered by the sub-centre have to travel long distances to get medical attention.
“It’s a desperate situation,” said Burasing Tisso. “We have to travel for hours to get basic medical care. It’s a nightmare for us, especially for the elderly and those with chronic illnesses.”
In a similar condition, Upper Hapjan Medical Sub-Centre, which covers 18 villages, has only two nurses and no doctor. The nurses are not regular in their duties, visiting the sub-centre only 2-3 days a week. When questioned about their irregularities, the nurses cited reasons such as fieldwork and the risk posed by drunken individuals who frequent the sub-centre, demanding medicines and causing a ruckus.
The local population is bearing the brunt of the sub-centre’s irregular services. Patients are forced to travel long distances to access healthcare services, which are often delayed or inadequate.
“We are suffering because of the irregular services at the sub-centre,” said Bijoy Timung, a local resident. “We have to travel far to get medical attention, which is often delayed. We urge the authorities to take immediate action to address this issue.”
The staff shortage is alarming, with numerous healthcare worker positions remaining vacant. Functional Medical Sub-Centres struggle with crumbling buildings, inadequate sanitation, and insufficient medical supplies, making it impossible for them to provide even basic healthcare services.
The situation is further complicated by the lack of affordable healthcare options in Assam. When patients are referred to Guwahati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), they are forced to seek further treatment in Nagaland due to exorbitant ambulance fares to travel to Guwahati.
Jasmine Phangchopi, a 26-year-old resident of the district, was left with no choice but to take her mother to Dimapur Hospital, approximately 30 kilometers from her village, instead of Guwahati Medical College Hospital, which is around 250 kilometers away.
The reason for this decision was the staggering ambulance fare of ₹10,000 to reach Guwahati Medical College Hospital from Diphu, Karbi Anglong. In contrast, the ambulance fare to Dimapur Hospital was ₹4,000—a significant difference that made the decision a no-brainer for Jasmine.
“It was a difficult decision, but we had no choice,” said Jasmine. “The ambulance fare to Guwahati was too expensive, and we couldn’t afford it. We had to take our chances with Dimapur Hospital, hoping that they would be able to provide the necessary treatment.”
This incident highlights the plight of residents in Karbi Anglong, who are forced to seek medical treatment in neighboring states due to the lack of affordable healthcare options in Assam.
The health crisis in Karbi Anglong is dire. Diseases like dengue and malaria ravage the community, with residents being forced to travel hours to distant hospitals, often resulting in delayed or foregone treatment. Families bear exorbitant costs for private care, exacerbating poverty and pushing them further into the depths of despair.
District authorities acknowledge the issue, citing funding constraints, staff recruitment challenges, and infrastructure upgrades as major hurdles. However, their acknowledgment of the problem has not translated into tangible action, leaving the community to suffer in silence.
The non-functional Medical Sub-Centres in Karbi Anglong have abandoned the indigenous population, exacerbating the health crisis and eroding the community’s trust in the government. Urgent intervention is necessary to restore healthcare services and preserve the community’s well-being.
The Assam state government must take swift action to address the crisis. Immediate staff recruitment, infrastructure revamp, community engagement, and increased funding are essential steps toward revitalizing the CHCs, Medical Sub-Centres, and restoring healthcare services to the community.
This story has been published as part of the AIPP-EastMojo Fellowship 2024.
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