A new-born with a complex congenital heart disease receives life-saving surgery under the RBSK scheme. Timely government intervention, free treatment, and air travel support saved the infant’s life, highlighting the impact of public healthcare initiatives.
A new-born baby born with a complex congenital heart disease has been given a new lease of life following timely medical intervention under the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) of the National Health Mission, officials confirmed on Wednesday.
The infant, identified as Arup Majumdar, was born on November 8, 2025, at Gomati District Hospital in Tripura. Moments after birth, the child developed acute respiratory distress, alarming the attending doctors and family members. Recognizing the severity of the condition, the new-born was immediately referred to Agartala Government Medical College and GB Hospital for advanced evaluation and treatment.
At GB Hospital, a team of specialists conducted detailed medical examinations and confirmed that Arup was suffering from a serious congenital heart defect, a life-threatening condition that requires urgent surgical intervention. Congenital heart diseases remain one of the leading causes of infant mortality if not treated in time, especially in economically vulnerable families.
Despite the critical diagnosis, Arup’s parents—Subhash Majumdar and Shivani Deb—were unable to continue treatment due to severe financial constraints. With no means to afford costly cardiac surgery at a private super-specialty hospital, the family was forced to bring the infant back home, even as his condition continued to worsen.
As the new-born’s health deteriorated further, a special medical team under the RBSK programme from Udaipur Tripurasundari Sub-Divisional Hospital intervened without delay. The team, led by Dr Nandan Debnath and supported by pharmacist Rajesh Bhowmik, personally visited the family after receiving information about the child’s condition.
During the visit, the RBSK team carefully assessed the infant and reassured the distressed parents that their child’s entire treatment—including surgery, hospitalization, and travel—would be conducted completely free of cost under the RBSK scheme of the National Health Mission. The assurance brought immense relief to the family, who had nearly lost hope of saving their child’s life.
Local MLA Abhishek Debroy also stepped forward to support the family and personally monitored the referral process. Officials said his intervention helped expedite administrative procedures and ensured that the infant received immediate access to advanced healthcare facilities outside the state.
After completing the necessary documentation, Arup was referred to Apollo Children’s Hospital in Chennai, a leading pediatric cardiac care center, in the second week of December. Under the RBSK scheme, the government arranged air travel for the infant and two attendants, ensuring safe and rapid transportation for the critically ill new-born.
Medical treatment at the Chennai hospital began on December 20, 2025. Following extensive evaluation by pediatric cardiac specialists, a life-saving heart surgery was successfully performed on December 26. The surgery marked a turning point in Arup’s fight for survival.
Post-surgery, the infant was kept under close medical observation and responded positively to treatment. After steady recovery, Arup was discharged from the hospital on January 5, 2026, in stable and healthy condition.
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Dr Nandan Debnath said the child is now completely healthy and no longer suffers from breathing difficulties. “Saving an innocent life gives us immense satisfaction and reinforces our commitment to public health service,” he said.
Arup’s parents expressed deep gratitude to the National Health Mission, the RBSK medical team, the local MLA, and both the state and central governments for their timely support. They said the intervention not only saved their child’s life but also restored their faith in the public healthcare system.
Officials said the case highlights the crucial role of government health schemes like RBSK in ensuring equitable access to life-saving treatment for children, especially those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
