Bhuvan Chandra Joshi says the move will severely impact healthcare services across Kumaon; demands immediate cancellation of transfers.
Almora:
The transfer of specialist doctors from Almora District Hospital has sparked political criticism, with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) founding member and former Assembly candidate Bhuvan Chandra Joshi strongly opposing the state government’s decision. He alleged that the transfer of doctors without adequate replacement would weaken healthcare services across the Kumaon region and adversely affect thousands of patients.
Joshi stated that Almora District Hospital serves as one of the major referral healthcare centres in the Kumaon hills. Patients from Someshwar, Jageshwar, Bageshwar, Pithoragarh, Champawat, and several other remote hill areas depend on the hospital for specialised medical treatment. According to him, transferring six doctors, including four specialists, without making alternative arrangements is a serious setback to public healthcare.
He said the government’s decision would force patients, particularly those from remote mountain regions, to travel to larger cities such as Haldwani or Dehradun for specialised treatment, increasing both financial burden and hardship.
Accusing the BJP government of contradicting its own claims of strengthening healthcare infrastructure in hill districts, Joshi said that the administration should have appointed replacement specialists before transferring existing doctors.
He also questioned the role of the opposition, stating that although the Congress had raised objections through public statements, issuing press releases alone was not enough. He asserted that the opposition should take up the matter more aggressively both inside and outside the legislature to compel the government to reconsider its decision.
Joshi demanded the immediate cancellation of the transfers and urged the government to fill all vacant specialist posts at the earliest. He warned that if the decision was not revoked, the Aam Aadmi Party would launch a large-scale public movement in support of the people.
He further said that healthcare is a fundamental public service and should not be compromised under any circumstances, especially in geographically challenging hill regions where access to quality medical care remains limited.
