BY TC News Desk
Agartala, 6th April 2025: The Ayurvedic unit at the Boxanagar Social Health Center has become practically non-functional following the transfer of its sole doctor, leaving thousands of patients without access to basic healthcare.
Approximately 45,000 people reside in the 16 gram panchayats under the Boxanagar health center’s jurisdiction, where Ayurvedic treatment has long served as a vital source of care. The unit, initially launched during the Left Front government, was closed once before due to a shortage of medical personnel. It was revived under the current administration, but the cycle of service disruption has repeated itself.
Dr. Sangita Das, the only Ayurvedic practitioner at the center, was transferred to Bishalgarh Government Hospital on April 2. She had been seeing patients thrice a week—Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Her final day of service was April 5, during which an overwhelming number of patients queued for consultations. However, since her departure, the unit has ceased functioning entirely due to the absence of a replacement.
Local patients have expressed deep dissatisfaction, pointing out that although the center still has a stock of Ayurvedic medicines, they cannot be distributed without a certified doctor’s supervision. Many have had to return home untreated and disheartened.
Residents have appealed to the state Health Minister and the government to take urgent steps to appoint a new Ayurvedic doctor at the Boxnagar unit under the National AYUSH Mission. They also emphasized the need for sustainable solutions to prevent such service interruptions in the future.
“The transfer of one doctor should not mean complete shutdown of a crucial health service. We urge the administration to treat this issue with the seriousness it deserves,” said a local villager.
