The Andaman & Nicobar Territorial Congress Committee (ANTCC) has called on the administration to provide free transportation for patients from inter-island regions referred to Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair) and mainland hospitals. The appeal highlights the financial and logistical hardships faced by patients due to limited healthcare facilities on remote islands.
In a formal representation addressed to the Chief Secretary of the Andaman & Nicobar Administration, TSG Bhasker, Chairman of the ANTCC Campaign Committee, emphasized that patients traveling to Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair) currently incur costs for helicopter and boat tickets. These expenses, he said, impose additional burdens on families already under stress due to medical emergencies.
Bhasker pointed out that many patients are subsequently referred from Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair) to mainland hospitals because advanced medical infrastructure is insufficient even in the capital. He urged the administration to cover travel costs for one patient and one attendant in such referrals, arguing that the necessity for travel arises directly from the lack of adequate local healthcare services.
The representation also addressed the financial strain on families transporting the mortal remains of deceased patients back to their home islands. Bhasker highlighted that current charges for mortuary vans or helicopter services place a heavy emotional and financial burden on bereaved families. He called on the administration to fully bear these costs, noting that the need for such transport is a direct consequence of inadequate medical facilities in inter-island areas.
Bhasker requested immediate intervention to ensure that patients and their families receive relief from travel-related financial burdens. He stressed that the administration’s support in these matters would be a crucial step in addressing healthcare inequities across the islands and ensuring humane treatment of citizens in medical emergencies.
The ANTCC’s appeal underscores broader concerns about healthcare accessibility in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, where limited infrastructure often necessitates travel to Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair) or the mainland for specialized treatment. By recommending free transport for patients and attendants, the committee aims to alleviate both the financial and logistical pressures faced by residents of remote islands.
The issue also draws attention to the need for strengthening healthcare infrastructure within inter-island regions to reduce dependence on distant facilities. Bhasker’s representation frames the provision of free patient transport as a humanitarian and administrative priority, emphasizing that timely action could directly improve the wellbeing of affected families.
The committee’s recommendations seek to ensure that citizens facing medical emergencies are not further disadvantaged by travel costs, while also providing dignity and financial relief to families in the event of a patient’s death. ANTCC called on the administration to implement these measures promptly, positioning the issue as one of urgent public interest and equity in healthcare access.
