Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha highlighted voluntary blood donation, organ transplantation and healthcare development at Unnayan Sangha’s 74th foundation day in Agartala, saying referral cases have fallen by 80 per cent as advanced medical services expand across the state.
Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha on Saturday said strengthening organ donation and transplantation facilities would remain a priority of the state government, while noting that referrals of patients to other states for complicated medical treatment had declined by around 80 per cent.
Dr Saha was speaking at the 74th foundation day celebration of Unnayan Sangha in Agartala’s North Badarghat area. A voluntary blood donation camp was organised by the community club as part of the programme. Agartala Municipal Corporation Mayor Dipak Majumder was also present at the event.
The Chief Minister described voluntary blood donation as a noble social responsibility and congratulated all those who participated in the blood donation camp. He said blood donation had not always been voluntary and recalled a period when people used to donate blood in exchange for money, with such donors sometimes being available around hospitals.
“Voluntary blood donation is a noble thing,” Dr Saha said, while emphasising the importance of encouraging more people to participate in such humanitarian activities.
He also highlighted the importance of organ donation and transplantation and said the state government was working towards expanding advanced transplant facilities in Tripura. According to the Chief Minister, kidney transplant procedures have already been successfully conducted in the state, while preparations are being made to introduce additional procedures.
“Kidney transplant procedures have been successfully conducted here in our hospital. Now we are looking at introducing heart transplant, liver transplant and eye transplant procedures,” he said.
Dr Saha said the expansion of specialised healthcare infrastructure was gradually reducing the dependence of Tripura’s patients on hospitals outside the state. He recalled that patients requiring complicated medical interventions were previously referred in large numbers to hospitals in Kolkata and various southern states.
However, he said the situation had changed substantially with the expansion of healthcare facilities and medical expertise within Tripura.
The Chief Minister said around 80 per cent of referral cases from Tripura had been reduced, reflecting efforts to make more specialised treatment available locally. He also pointed to the increasing number of medical colleges in the state and said Tripura’s healthcare system was progressively becoming stronger.
The programme also highlighted the contribution of community organisations and frontline workers. The Chief Minister expressed appreciation for the dedicated services provided by Auxiliary Multipurpose Community Health Workers (AMC) and ASHA workers, whose efforts contribute significantly to community-level healthcare and social welfare.
In his message, Dr Saha said he was pleased to attend the voluntary blood donation camp and felicitation programme organised by Unnayan Sangha. He praised AMC and ASHA workers for their tireless service to society and extended his appreciation to all blood donors who participated in the initiative.
Speaking about the role of community clubs, the Chief Minister said such organisations could make an important contribution to maintaining discipline, promoting social harmony and helping resolve disputes. At the same time, he stressed that clubs should remain neutral when intervening in disputes.
Dr Saha cautioned against attempts by individuals with strong connections to community clubs to influence decisions during disputes. He said such undue influence should be avoided to ensure that community organisations maintain public trust.
“I have been a member of a community club for a long time. So, I am telling all this from my personal experience,” the Chief Minister said.
He also recalled that community clubs had earlier witnessed disputes over the expansion of their respective areas, with some incidents becoming violent and creating fear among local residents.
According to Dr Saha, however, the culture surrounding community clubs has changed considerably over the years. He said clubs are now increasingly focusing on social service and community welfare rather than conflicts.
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The Chief Minister’s remarks placed healthcare expansion, voluntary blood donation, organ transplantation and responsible community participation at the centre of the programme, while underlining the government’s efforts to strengthen advanced medical treatment facilities within Tripura.
