A three-day halt in blood tests at Rajiv Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Kailashahar, due to an alleged internet issue forces poor patients to seek costly private labs. Questions arise over staff negligence and possible links to private diagnostic centres.
Despite the state government’s consistent emphasis on delivering free and quality healthcare to every citizen, a section of medical staff appears to be undermining these efforts. A troubling incident has come to light at the Rajiv Gandhi Memorial Hospital in Kailashahar, where free blood tests have remained suspended for the past three days, causing distress among hundreds of patients.
Since Monday, December 8, patients visiting the hospital have reported that the laboratory sample collection room has stopped accepting blood samples altogether. This abrupt suspension has forced many people—particularly those from economically weaker backgrounds—to seek costly testing services at private laboratories outside the hospital premises.
Patients expressed strong dissatisfaction, accusing the hospital staff and medical officers of displaying an irresponsible and indifferent attitude towards public healthcare services. The disruption has inconvenienced indoor patients as well as those who rely on outpatient department services for daily medical needs.
When approached for clarification, Lovely Shil, a staff member at the laboratory sample collection centre, confirmed that blood samples had not been collected for three consecutive days. She attributed the problem to an “internet connectivity issue,” claiming that the laboratory system cannot operate without stable internet access.
However, internet services across the entire Kailashahar subdivision have remained fully functional. Even within Rajiv Gandhi Memorial Hospital, all other departments continue to operate smoothly. Strangely, only the laboratory sample collection centre is facing this alleged connectivity problem, raising serious doubts among patients and observers.
Shil further stated that blood collection would resume only after the internet issue is resolved, indirectly suggesting that patients may experience further delays without any clear timeline.
Patients have also criticized the inaction of medical officers, questioning why no immediate steps were taken to address the disruption. Several individuals alleged that the officers’ silence may be linked to possible ties with private laboratory operators who stand to benefit financially from the continued suspension of free government services.
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Rajiv Gandhi Memorial Hospital is one of the region’s oldest and most significant healthcare facilities. Residents fear that if such lapses can occur in a major hospital, then the condition of healthcare in remote and rural areas may be far worse. They urged authorities to intervene immediately and restore essential services without delay.
