Assam Health and Family Welfare Minister Ashok Singhal on Thursday, 27 August conducted a comprehensive review of healthcare services and infrastructure across Majuli, the river island district, inspecting medical facilities and holding discussions with officials to address persistent gaps in health delivery.

Hospitals Inspected

Singhal visited the 50-bed Ayurvedic Hospital at Sriram Chapori, reviewing treatment facilities, medical services, and overall institutional functioning. He interacted directly with doctors, healthcare workers, patients, and attendants to understand operational challenges and requirements. The Minister assured that problems identified during the inspection would be resolved at the earliest.

He subsequently visited the Sri Sri Pitambar Dev Goswami District Civil Hospital, where he reviewed medical services, infrastructure, and hospital management. Here too, he sought feedback from staff and patients and reiterated that necessary corrective steps would be taken promptly.

Government's Healthcare Objective for Majuli

Singhal emphasised the government's commitment to building strong, accessible, and quality healthcare infrastructure in Majuli, with a focus on better coordination between traditional Ayurvedic treatment and modern medical services. He stressed the need for focused, field-level interventions to ensure healthcare facilities reach residents more effectively — particularly significant given Majuli's geographically dispersed population spread across a river island.

District-Level Review on Health Indicators

At the Majuli Deputy Commissioner's office, the Minister chaired a review meeting on the district's health and family welfare indicators. Discussions covered maternal and child health, disease control, services provided by healthcare institutions, medical infrastructure, and the progress of ongoing government health programmes. Singhal underscored the need for measurable improvements and said the government was working continuously to ensure that Majuli residents could access quality healthcare within the district itself.

Cultural Visit and Accompanying Officials

During the visit, Singhal also paid obeisance at the historic Sri Sri Uttar Kamalabari Satra, one of Majuli's important Vaishnavite spiritual and cultural centres, and offered prayers for the welfare and prosperity of the people of Assam.

Majuli MLA Bhuban Gam, Health and Family Welfare Department Additional Secretary Munindra Nath Nangte, along with senior health department officials, accompanied the Minister throughout the visit. The review takes on added significance as Majuli — a designated river island district — faces distinctive logistical and infrastructural challenges in extending healthcare access to its scattered communities.

With the government's stated intent to address the identified gaps, the focus now shifts to follow-through on the assurances made during this field visit.