Healthcare services in South Andaman have expanded following the inauguration of the Phase-I building of the District Hospital at Garacharma earlier this year, with the upgraded facility now offering a wider range of medical and wellness services for residents in the surrounding region.
The hospital, inaugurated on January 3, 2026, represents a significant upgrade of the earlier Primary Health Centre at Garacharma. With the completion of the first phase, the institution now functions as a district hospital with a capacity of 35 beds, providing improved healthcare access to people living in Garacharma and neighbouring villages.
Authorities stated that the upgraded facility now delivers multiple Health and Wellness services covering both inpatient and outpatient medical needs. The In-Patient Department includes a labour ward, while the Out-Patient Department provides general consultation services along with a dedicated dental OPD.
The hospital has also introduced round-the-clock emergency services, ensuring that patients requiring urgent care can access treatment at any time. Several specialised services have been integrated into the facility, including homoeopathy outpatient services, antenatal care clinics and ear-nose-throat consultations with indoor treatment support from a specialist.
Additional facilities now available at the hospital include a dressing room, eye unit and a diagnostic laboratory that supports routine medical investigations. The hospital also houses a tuberculosis unit with diagnostic capabilities, enabling early detection and management of TB cases within the local community.
Diagnostic infrastructure at the hospital has been strengthened with the installation of radiology services including X-ray facilities. Pharmacy services have also been established to provide medicines to patients visiting the hospital. A dental unit has been set up to support oral healthcare services, while yoga services have been included as part of the wellness component of the hospital’s offerings.
Emergency transport support has also been arranged through ambulance services equipped with oxygen cylinders to assist patients requiring urgent medical transfers. Officials indicated that these additions are intended to ensure that essential medical care is available locally without patients having to travel long distances for basic treatment.
Authorities have also proposed the establishment of a 10-bedded dialysis unit at the hospital in the coming phase. Once operational, this facility will provide dialysis treatment for patients suffering from chronic kidney disease and is expected to significantly improve access to renal care services for residents of South Andaman.
The healthcare infrastructure at Garacharma is expected to undergo further expansion once the Phase-II building of the hospital is completed. The additional infrastructure is planned to enable the institution to function as a comprehensive secondary healthcare centre capable of addressing a broader range of medical needs of the local population.
Residents of Garacharma and nearby areas have been encouraged to utilise the healthcare and wellness facilities now available at the upgraded hospital. The expansion of services is intended to strengthen public healthcare delivery in the region while improving accessibility to essential medical treatment within South Andaman.
The development forms part of broader efforts to enhance healthcare infrastructure across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, particularly in areas experiencing population growth and increasing demand for medical services.
