8 dialysis machines vandalised at Silchar Medical College Hospital, services hit
Dialysis Unit at Silchar Medical College Vandalised, Services Disrupted
Silchar: In a disturbing incident at Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH) late Sunday night, miscreants allegedly vandalised eight dialysis machines, severely disrupting critical medical services.
On Monday morning, hospital staff arrived to find the dialysis unit in complete disarray. Multiple dialysis machines, along with essential electronic equipment such as computers and printers, were found damaged beyond use. Authorities confirmed that eight dialysis machines — imported from Germany — were rendered non-functional.
Speaking to TOI, Sayantan Das, senior in charge of the dialysis unit, said, "Even though the unit was locked from the outside, someone managed to enter and damage the display panels of the dialysis machines, rendering them unusable. They also broke the lock of another entrance where no CCTV camera was installed."
Das also mentioned that the machines had been imported from Germany and were not easily replaceable, adding that it would take time to restore full functionality. Notably, no item was stolen.
The unit, which operates under a public-private partnership with Apollo Centre, typically provides free dialysis services to economically disadvantaged patients, handling 30 to 40 cases daily. With only three to four machines now operational, many patients are facing uncertain and possibly dangerous delays in treatment.
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Dr Bhaskar Gupta, principal of SMCH, called the incident deliberate. "We've lodged an FIR and informed the district commissioner, NHM director, and DME. Police are investigating," he said, suggesting that the attack may have been carried out by people opposed to SMCH operating its own dialysis unit, reports TOI.
Hospital authorities stated that the operator has been informed and is working on restoring services at the earliest.
Security at the hospital is overseen by the state home guard, but the breach has raised serious questions about lapses in surveillance and patrolling, especially given the absence of CCTV coverage at one of the entrances used by the perpetrators.
