WB: Doctors oppose move to pull down Regional Institute of Ophthalmology, write to CM
Kolkata: Opposing the West Bengal Government's decision of demolishing the Regional Institute of Ophthalmology (RIO) to make way for the Trauma Center of Calcutta Medical College Hospital, the doctors under the umbrella of the Association of Health Service Doctors (AHSD) has written a letter to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee requesting her to roll back the decision.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the Medical College's Rogi Kalyan Samiti (Patient Welfare Association).
According to sources, the new building of the Regional Institute of Ophthalmology, RIO will be constructed behind the NRS Hospital next time. However, the government eye hospital will temporarily run in the Ezra building of the medical college until the new building is constructed, reports ABP News. The Regional Institute of Ophthalmology was established in 1933.
As per a recent media report in The Indian Express, AHSD has submitted a letter to the CM opposing the decision of demolishing RIO and stated, "The resolution passed by Rogi Kalyan Samiti stated that RIO (Regional Institute of Ophthalmology) will be demolished to make way for a ten-storey trauma centre with state-of-the-art facilities. Whether the trauma centre should be welcomed on a highly congested and super busy roadway on either side is a separate question. But in any case, we can't even think of demolishing a building with such rich heritage."
" On 1926, it started as Eye Infirmary and was the first-of-its-kind in British India. Till the 1960s, patients from all over India came to this institute that was regarded as the best in the country. Practically, a great number of teachers, as well as renowned ophthalmologists in the city and abroad, are products of this Institute. Simply wishing it away by proposing to demolish, is quite unthinkable. We aren't sure, how the proposal cropped up; but, it's in every sense preposterous, to say the least. We strongly condemn this misadventure," read the letter undersigned by Prof Manas Gumta General Secretary AHSD West Bengal.
Meanwhile, the government has taken a firm stand against unauthorized trespassing on the land and hospital premises. The health department has directed illegal trespassers to vacate all government hospital premises in the state within 7 days. The instructions of the health building have already reached the principals, superintendents, superintendents and chief health officers of all government hospitals and medical colleges. The guidelines state that the hospital premises must be vacated by the 25th of this month.
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