Cooch Behar, May 24 -- Efforts are being made to establish an AIIMS-like hospital in Mathabhanga of Cooch Behar district, a move that has sparked hope and excitement across North Bengal. The announcement was made on Friday by state Youth Welfare and Sports as well as North Bengal Development minister Nisith Pramanik during the Abhinandan Yatra programme in Mathabhanga.
The proposed hospital is expected to benefit not only the people of Cooch Behar district but also residents of lower Assam, Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri and neighbouring Bhutan. North Bengal has long faced a shortage of advanced healthcare facilities, forcing many patients to travel to South India for specialised treatment.
During the Assembly election campaign, Nisith Pramanik had promised to transform Mathabhanga into a super-speciality healthcare centre. After taking oath as a minister, he participated in a victory procession in Mathabhanga town on Friday to thank the people for their support. BJP Cooch Behar district president Abhijit Barman was also present at the programme.
Addressing the gathering, Pramanik said: "I had spoken about setting up a super-speciality hospital in Mathabhanga. Now we will try to establish a major institution like AIIMS here. The people have blessed us with more support than we had sought, and we will deliver more development than promised."
The announcement has triggered widespread discussion on social media, with many residents welcoming the initiative. Pawan Bucha, a member of the Cooch Behar District Business Association, said that despite having a medical college, the district still lacks adequate healthcare services and specialist doctors. "If an AIIMS-like hospital is established here, it will greatly benefit the people and also improve the region's economic and social condition," he said.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.