Birjit Sinha criticised the Tripura government’s ban on private practice by doctors at GB Hospital, calling the decision unrealistic and harmful to patients.
| Earlier report: Congress MLA Up Against Ban on GB Hospital Doctors’ Private Practice|
Speaking during a six-hour protest in Agartala, he alleged healthcare failures, corruption and poor governance, and warned of statewide agitation if the order remains in force.
Agartala: Congress MLA Birjit Sinha mounted a sharp attack on the BJP-led Tripura government over its decision to prohibit private practice by government doctors at GB Hospital today. Calling the move “unrealistic” and “anti-patient”, he claimed the decision would worsen healthcare delivery across the state and create additional hardship for thousands of patients.
Sinha made the remarks while addressing a six-hour protest held from 10 am to 4:30 pm near the Gandhi statue adjacent to Circuit House in Agartala. The demonstration took place under the banner of the All India Panchayat Parishad and focused primarily on the government’s recent order banning private practice by government doctors at GB Hospital.
The Congress legislator said the government’s decision had already triggered widespread concern among people across Tripura. According to him, patients fear that access to specialist treatment will become more difficult because GB Hospital lacks the infrastructure to absorb the additional patient load.
He argued that the state’s largest government hospital does not have sufficient consultation facilities, operation theatres or manpower to manage the expected increase in patient turnout.
“Thousands of people already visit GB Hospital every day. Patients often wait for nearly two hours just to obtain registration. They again have to stand in long queues outside doctors’ chambers. The hospital does not have adequate infrastructure to handle more patients,” Sinha said.
Ban will affect mothers, working people and private hospitals
The Congress MLA claimed the government’s decision would create serious difficulties for pregnant women, especially those requiring caesarean deliveries or specialised obstetric care.
He also said several private nursing homes would face operational challenges because many specialists associated with them would no longer be available for consultation or surgical procedures.
Sinha further argued that office-goers and working professionals would suffer because they could no longer consult doctors after office hours at private chambers.
“People who work throughout the day will now have to take leave from their jobs if they want to consult a government doctor at GB Hospital. This will create unnecessary hardship for ordinary citizens,” he said.
Demanding immediate withdrawal of the order, Sinha asserted that the government should not delay its decision any further.
Protest organised after public appeal
Explaining the reason behind the protest, Sinha said several eminent citizens had contacted him and urged that public opposition should move beyond political statements.
He said that prompted the All India Panchayat Parishad to organise the day-long dharna in Agartala.
According to Sinha, many supporters and participants also faced difficulties in reaching the protest venue because a passenger train remained stranded for several hours due to a rail blockade at Teliamura.
He claimed he had requested the Director General of Police and other authorities to resolve the issue quickly through dialogue with the protesters. However, he alleged that the administration failed to act promptly.
“The government could have resolved the matter immediately by talking to those who blocked the railway track. Instead, thousands of passengers suffered for hours,” he alleged.
BJP government facing governance failure: Sinha
During his speech, Sinha broadened his criticism and accused the BJP-led government of administrative failure.
Referring to the BJP’s “triple-engine government”, he said the administration had failed to address basic public issues despite having governments at multiple levels.
He alleged that governance had deteriorated and corruption had spread throughout the administrative system.
“Whether it is a double-engine or triple-engine government, governance is not functioning properly. Corruption has become widespread and people are losing faith in the administration,” he claimed.
The Congress MLA also criticised the condition of roads across Tripura.
He alleged that poor-quality construction and irregularities in the tendering process had damaged roads built by the Public Works Department as well as National Highway projects.
According to him, the government had failed to control abnormally low bidding during the tender process, resulting in poor construction quality.
Alleges misuse of development funds
Sinha also accused the ruling party of allowing mafia networks to influence government projects.
He alleged that funds meant for public development were being misappropriated by politically connected groups.
The Congress leader further claimed that some government officials had become part of the alleged corruption network.
“Mafia activities have not stopped in Tripura. Development funds are being looted. Some senior officials are also involved. People are becoming increasingly frustrated,” he alleged.
He warned that public anger was steadily growing and said people would eventually protest if the situation remained unchanged.
Congress plans district-level agitation
Sinha announced that the Congress would intensify its campaign against the government’s healthcare policy.
He said the party would organise protests in every district if the government refused to withdraw the order banning private practice by doctors at GB Hospital.
“If the government does not reverse this unrealistic decision, we will launch district-level agitations across Tripura,” he said.
Raises concerns over healthcare infrastructure
The Congress MLA also highlighted what he described as the poor condition of healthcare facilities outside Agartala.
He claimed that several district hospitals either lacked functional Intensive Care Units (ICUs) or had ICU facilities without trained technicians and specialist doctors.
According to Sinha, the shortage of doctors, nurses and technical staff has weakened healthcare delivery throughout the state.
He expressed disappointment that healthcare services had not improved despite Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha being a medical professional.
“People believed that healthcare would improve under a doctor as Chief Minister. We also expected better services. But patients are still not receiving proper treatment because there are vacancies for doctors, nurses and technicians,” he said.
He urged the government to immediately recruit doctors, nurses and technical personnel to strengthen public healthcare services.
Sinha concluded by saying healthcare remains one of the most essential public services and should receive the government’s highest priority. He maintained that improving hospital infrastructure and filling vacant medical posts would benefit patients far more than implementing what he described as an impractical ban on private practice.
