SM Dev Civil Hospital completed 100 years here on Monday. A function was held at the auditorium hall of the hospital to mark the momentous occasion where Member of Parliament, Silchar, Dr.Rajdeep Roy graced the occasion as the chief guest with Deputy Commissioner, Cachar, Keerthi Jalli presiding over the function.

Speaking on the occasion, MP, Dr.Roy said Silchar Civil Hospital has witnessed many ups and downs in its chequered journey of glorious 100 years. “The name of the hospital has been changed through the formation of a trust. The middle years have passed in extreme disarray.  However, the steps were taken by the government to improve this hospital since 2016 are commendable,” he said. 

MP, Dr. Roy shed light on various aspects of health services in the North East. He said that at one time Silchar Civil Hospital was the only source of medical services in the valley.  “Cholera, Typhoid, TB, etc., were deadly diseases in those days. Health care has changed dramatically since the discovery of antibiotics,” he quipped.

He mentioned that after the establishment of Silchar Medical College and Hospital, the number of patients coming to the Civil Hospital has decreased but its importance has not diminished at the slightest. Realising this, the government has emphasised on developing the infrastructure of the hospital. “Health Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma on the occasion of the centenary has announced that Silchar Civil Hospital will be upgraded to a 300-bed hospital. Dr. Sarma also said that the government is trying to fulfill the hopes and aspirations of the people. Physicians and health workers should also try to meet the expectations,” he added.

Dilip Kumar Pal, chairman of the management committee of the civil hospital and MLA of Silchar, said one of the goals of the state government is to develop the infrastructure of the hospital. And the development of the hospital is advancing towards that goal. “The present infrastructural development of laboratory, ICU, blood bank, CT scan, etc.has been possible in a short span of the hospital. Dr. Ashutosh Barman was the then hospital superintendent. His contribution is undeniable.  Hospital doctors, nurses, third and fourth grade employees and even work charged workers are working hard to achieve the status of the best medical Institute in the state,” he added. 

Referring to the announcement of the Health Minister, he said that if the 300-bed hospital is converted, the health services in the region are bound to undergo major changes.

Keerthi Jalli, Deputy Commissioner, Cachar and the president of the hospital management committee, mentioned that she took charge as Deputy Commissioner of Cachar on May 9 this year when corona infection was at its peak. Under such circumstances, she visited the Civil Hospital on May 11 to upgrade it to a Covid hospital. She said a letter was sent to Health Minister Dr.Sarma to do something for Silchar Civil Hospital and the Health Minister announced that present SM Dev Hospital will be converted into a 300-bed hospital.

The Deputy Commissioner also said that the centenary celebration is not just a centenary celebration of a building or a brick-and-stone structure, the sweat, hard toil and self-sacrifice of many people are involved in building an organisation and that must be remembered.

The foundation stone of Silchar Civil Hospital was laid on 2nd November 1920 by Frederick John Napier, Viceroy of British India. Hospital Superintendent Dr Jiten Singh Hazari recalled this at the commencement of the centenary celebrations. He mentioned that this hospital was started before 1920. “In 1884 the Civil Society started its journey under the name of Charitable Sadar Hospital in an effort to pay homage to Himangshujyoti Kar, a social philanthropist of Silchar at that time. Later in 1920 it was upgraded to a civil hospital by the British Raj,” he said. 

He announced that the centenary will be celebrated through various events throughout the month.  Dr. Sudip Jyoti Das, Joint Director Health Services, Mihir Kanti Shome, MLA, Udharbond and Sumit Sattawan, Additional Deputy Commissioner also spoke on the occasion.