SILIGURI,: Darjeeling MP Raju Bista on Thursday raised an urgent issue in
Parliament under Rule 377, emphasizing the need for an All India Institute of
Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in North Bengal.
“I
brought to the attention of the House the acute shortage of healthcare services
in the northern districts of Bengal - Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Alipurduar,
Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar, North Dinajpur, and South Dinajpur - which together
have a population of approximately 2.5 crore. Government-run hospitals in this
region are underfunded, inadequately staffed and lack basic medical equipment
and facilities,” Bista said over the telephone.
He
pointed out that a large portion of the population in these districts depends
on tea estates or farming for their livelihood, with limited income that makes
private healthcare unaffordable. “Traveling to distant cities for healthcare is
not an option for most residents due to financial constraints,” he added.
Bista
further criticized the West Bengal government for not implementing the Ayushman
Bharat scheme, leaving the poorest and most marginalized communities without
access to essential healthcare services. This omission, he said, has
exacerbated health disparities in the region.
Bista
said he recommended Siliguri for AIIMS North Bengal.
“Siliguri
is centrally located and lies in the heart of North Bengal. It is
well-connected by air, rail, and road, making it easily accessible for people
from across the region. Thousands already travel to Siliguri for basic medical
treatment, and establishing an AIIMS here would provide much-needed relief for
the people of North Bengal, as well as for those in eastern Bihar, parts of
Sikkim, and lower Assam. The establishment of an AIIMS in Siliguri would go a
long way in addressing the acute healthcare shortage faced by our region. It
will further help ensure that millions of people have access to quality medical
services on par with the rest of the country,” said Bista.
