Surgeries at Kolkata’s JB Roy State Ayurvedic Medical College and Hospital in Shyambazar have remained suspended for seven months because the facility does not have an anaesthesia doctor, disrupting treatment for patients and hands-on training for medical students.
The hospital has an operation theatre and Ayurvedic surgeons, but procedures cannot be conducted without anaesthesia support. According to the report, a few anaesthesia doctors had worked at the hospital temporarily, but one was transferred and another retired. Complaints cited in the report say the hospital has faced a shortage of a permanent anaesthesia doctor for nearly two to three years, with surgeries operating irregularly before stopping completely.
The disruption has affected patients who travel from distant parts of West Bengal and other states for treatment at the government hospital. JB Roy is described as the only government hospital in the state offering Kshar Sutra treatment for conditions including piles, fistula and anal fissure. The low-cost service has made it a destination for patients seeking Ayurvedic treatment for these and other conditions.
Patients scheduled for surgery and their families have said that operation dates are being postponed because of the shortage. They have sought the appointment of an anaesthesia doctor or an alternative arrangement to restore surgical services. The report said the uncertainty is particularly concerning for patients who need surgery without prolonged delay.
The stoppage has also affected students at the Ayurvedic medical college. Although the surgical department and operation theatre remain available, students are unable to gain practical experience because procedures are not being performed. The interruption therefore affects both patient care and the clinical training expected from the institution.
The hospital, established in 1916 by physician and Ayurvedic practitioner Jaminibhushan Ray, also provides treatment for chronic fever, digestive problems, arthritis and metabolic conditions. Its departments include paediatrics, gynaecology and obstetrics, Shalakya Tantra and Swasthavritta, according to the report. The hospital’s long-standing reputation and the recent growth in public interest in Ayurvedic treatment have increased concern among patients over the prolonged disruption.
The immediate administrative issue is the absence of a specialist service required to make existing surgical infrastructure operational. The report raises questions about why the shortage continued despite the availability of an operation theatre and surgical department, and what steps were taken by the health department and hospital authorities during the earlier period of irregular service.
JB Roy State Ayurvedic Medical College and Hospital principal Supriya Chowdhury said the process of resolving the problem had already begun. “We have already started the process of solving the problem. We are trying to resolve the permanent problem as soon as possible. I hope this will be resolved soon,” Chowdhury said, according to the report.
The hospital’s next step, as stated by its principal, is to pursue a permanent solution to the anaesthesia staffing shortage and restore surgery at the facility.