The Congress party has launched a scathing criticism of the BJP-led government in Tripura, accusing them of presiding over the collapse of the state’s healthcare system despite Chief Minister Manik Saha being a doctor himself.
Congress spokesperson Prabir Chakraborty has slammed the government for allegedly turning a blind eye to corruption and medical negligence which has led to unnecessary deaths instead of providing quality healthcare to the people. He pointed to both government and independent reports that have debunked the ruling party’s claims of a healthcare “revolution” in the state.
According to a report from the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Tripura has ranked first among northeastern states in malaria and chikungunya cases in 2024-25, despite having a much smaller population of 44 lakh compared to Assam’s over 3 crore. In 2023 alone, Tripura recorded a staggering 22,412 malaria cases, accounting for nearly half of the Northeast’s total cases. The number of chikungunya cases has also seen a sharp increase, from 1,557 in 2023 to 2,452 by December 2024.
Chakraborty also highlighted a concerning rise in HIV cases, with 1,237 people testing positive out of 12,660 screened between January and November 2024. He further alleged widespread corruption in medical recruitments, claiming that candidates scoring as low as 14-15 marks out of 100 were being appointed as medical officers in the state.
“The state government seems to be more interested in creating flashy showcases than implementing real reforms in the healthcare sector,” Chakraborty stated, urging Chief Minister Manik Saha to take decisive action to strengthen the healthcare system in Tripura. The Congress party’s criticism underscores the urgent need for the government to address the systemic issues plaguing the healthcare system in the state.
