An 88-year-old woman, Sandhya Rani Chakraborty, broke down in tears while alleging that she faced humiliation and neglect at Teliamura Sub-Divisional Hospital under Khowai district while seeking medical treatment on Friday.
“I no longer have the strength in my body. I had no option but to silently walk out of the hospital after being insulted,” she said emotionally.
The allegations have been directed against the hospital’s on-duty doctor and Sub-Divisional Medical Officer (SDMO), Dr Raja Jamatia.
According to the elderly woman, she had visited the hospital seeking treatment for various age-related health complications. After waiting in a long queue, she finally entered the doctor’s chamber and began explaining her health condition.
However, she alleged that before she could finish speaking, the doctor raised his voice and asked her to leave the room. She further claimed that she was scolded in an insulting manner.
Struggling to hold back tears, Sandhya Rani Chakraborty said, “I am no longer in a condition to argue. My body does not support me anymore. So I quietly came out. But if patients are treated this way in hospitals, where will elderly people like us go?”
Following the incident, she spoke to journalists from the hospital premises. She said that patients expect compassion, patience, and humane behaviour from doctors. If patients are instead subjected to humiliation, public trust in the healthcare system would be seriously affected, she added.
Meanwhile, a section of local residents claimed that similar allegations of rude behaviour towards patients had previously surfaced against Dr Raja Jamatia as well. A relative of another patient alleged that many patients travelling from distant areas are often advised to visit private chambers instead. However, these allegations could not be independently verified.
The incident has triggered widespread concern in the area. Locals pointed out that the state health department and Teliamura MLA Kalyani Saha Roy have taken several initiatives to improve healthcare services for the people of the region. But, repeated allegations of misbehaviour and mismanagement inside the hospital are now raising serious questions over the effectiveness of those efforts.