News Reporter
GMC prioritizes holidays over emergency care, tribal youth suffers.
Guwahati , June 8, 2025
A 14-year-old boy from Manja, Karbi Anglong, is fighting for his leg—and possibly his future—after being denied urgent medical intervention at Gauhati Medical College & Hospital (GMC) despite a life-threatening injury.
The accident occurred on Friday around 1:30 PM on the Manja–Longnit Road, when the boy reportedly met with a serious bike accident. He was immediately rushed to Diphu Medical College, where doctors, including Dr. Ajay, diagnosed him with a severe vascular injury in his leg and issued a grave warning:
“The CV scan and surgery must be done within 12 hours or we will be forced to amputate.”
Due to lack of resources at Diphu, the family was referred to GMC Guwahati—the state’s premier medical institution—for urgent intervention. The poor family, desperate to save their child’s leg, somehow managed to reach GMC overnight.
However, what followed shocked the family and all those who believe in the right to emergency care. According to the family, GMC doctors responded coldly, stating:
“If it was a brain injury, we would do it now. But it’s just a leg—wait till Monday. Today is Eid, and tomorrow is Sunday.”
This statement comes despite the explicit referral and emergency diagnosis by Diphu Medical College. With no vascular scan, no treatment, and no attending specialist, the family is now watching the clock helplessly as the boy’s condition deteriorates.
Brokers, Absence of Doctors Raise Serious Questions
Family members and local sources allege the presence of medical "brokers" operating within GMC, further complicating access to timely care. Doctors were reportedly absent from duty, citing holidays—even in a case where delay could lead to amputation.
“This is not just medical negligence; it is a total breakdown of emergency healthcare,” said a local activist assisting the family. “The child is from a poor tribal family. Are his pain and rights less important because he’s not from the city?”
Appeal to Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma
The family and concerned citizens have appealed directly to Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, known for his active interventions in citizen issues, to immediately ensure that the boy receives the life-saving surgery.
The incident raises serious questions about emergency preparedness in government hospitals, the role of medical ethics, and the vulnerability of rural patients in urban medical systems.
If action is not taken within hours, the boy’s leg—and possibly his future—could be lost forever.