Tripura CM Dr. Manik Saha reaffirmed the Tripura government’s commitment to providing necessary facilities and support to doctors, strengthening healthcare infrastructure, promoting transparency, expanding teleconsultation services, and improving affordable medical care while addressing National Doctors’ Day celebrations in Agartala.
Reaffirming the state government’s commitment to strengthening the healthcare sector, Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha on Saturday said that providing necessary facilities, administrative support and a transparent working environment for doctors remains one of the government’s top priorities. He made the remarks while addressing the National Doctors’ Day celebration organised by the Health and Family Welfare Department at Prajna Bhavan in Agartala.
Speaking before a gathering of senior medical professionals, government officials and healthcare workers, the Chief Minister underlined the indispensable role played by doctors in building a healthy society and a strong nation. He urged members of the medical fraternity to follow the ideals of legendary physician and statesman Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy, whose birth anniversary is observed every year as National Doctors’ Day.
Dr. Saha referred to the government’s recent decision to prohibit private practice by doctors serving at Agartala Government Medical College (AGMC) and Govind Ballabh Pant (GBP) Hospital. He clarified that the circular restricting private practice by government doctors had existed for several years but was never implemented effectively.
The Chief Minister said the present government is committed to ensuring greater transparency, accountability and efficiency in healthcare services. According to him, the decision was taken only after holding discussions with doctors’ associations and considering their opinions, ensuring that stakeholders were part of the decision-making process.
Highlighting the importance of ethics and professionalism in medical practice, Dr. Saha said doctors should draw inspiration from Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy’s integrity, discipline, dedication and commitment to public service. He stressed that respect and recognition in society can only be earned through sincere, responsible and patient-centric healthcare services.
The Chief Minister also emphasised the growing importance of teleconsultation services, saying that wider adoption of digital healthcare platforms would help reduce treatment costs, save valuable time for patients and improve access to specialist medical advice, particularly for people living in remote areas.
Dr. Saha reiterated that the government’s priority is to strengthen healthcare infrastructure across Tripura while ensuring affordable and quality treatment for every citizen. He noted that significant progress has already been achieved in improving medical facilities across the state.
Highlighting recent achievements, the Chief Minister said the number of patients being referred outside Tripura for advanced treatment has reduced considerably due to improvements in the state’s healthcare system. He added that the government is focusing not only on upgrading hospitals in Agartala but also on developing advanced healthcare facilities in district and sub-divisional hospitals.
Looking ahead, Dr. Saha revealed that the government is planning to introduce liver and heart transplant facilities in Tripura in the coming years, marking another major step toward self-reliance in specialised healthcare services.
He also announced that Tripura has achieved 100 percent success in implementing the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), enabling eligible beneficiaries to access quality healthcare under the flagship health insurance scheme.
Recalling the remarkable legacy of Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy, the Chief Minister described him as an exceptional physician, administrator and visionary leader whose contributions continue to inspire generations of healthcare professionals.
“With the cooperation of people from every section of society, we can build a healthier and stronger Tripura,” Dr. Saha said while calling for collective efforts to further improve public health services across the state.
In his welcome address, Health Secretary Kiran Gitte highlighted several initiatives undertaken by the Health and Family Welfare Department to strengthen healthcare delivery and improve access to quality medical services throughout Tripura.
The programme was attended by Director of Family Welfare and Preventive Medicine Dr. Anjan Das, Principal of Agartala Government Medical College Dr. Tapan Majumdar, Principal of TMC and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Teaching Hospital Prof. Dr. Arindam Dutta, and Principal of Agartala Government Dental College Dr. Shalu Roy, among other senior officials and medical professionals.
| Also Read: CM reviews NH Devt Projects of the state with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari |
As part of the National Doctors’ Day celebration, ten retired doctors were felicitated for their lifelong contributions to the medical profession, while seven serving doctors received awards in recognition of their outstanding service in various fields of healthcare. The vote of thanks was delivered by Health Department Director Dr. Debashree Debbarma, concluding the programme with a renewed commitment to strengthening Tripura’s healthcare system.
