Boko, 13 May: Serious allegations of corruption have surfaced against the Boko Block Primary Health Centre, with the All Assam Gorkha Students’ Union, Kamrup District Committee, accusing the authorities of malpractice in medical services.

The controversy erupted after a 16-year-old girl student from the Gorkha community visited the centre for medical tests as prescribed by a doctor on Wednesday. Despite written instructions for liver, typhoid, and complete blood count examinations, the laboratory technician allegedly refused to collect blood and other samples after 1 PM, citing time constraints. This contradicted the official laboratory schedule displayed outside, which clearly mentions operating hours from 8 AM to 1:30 PM.

Union president Gobinda Sharma, informed of the incident, attempted to contact Deputy Superintendent Dr. Apurba Talukdar. Though unavailable at the time, Dr. Talukdar later dismissed the matter, claiming sample collection and testing required several hours. Sharma, however, condemned the excuse, demanding transparency and proper notification for patients. He further revealed that similar incidents had occurred earlier, with no corrective action taken despite repeated complaints.

The union has also alleged that many patients, including those from remote areas such as Lampi (nearly 40 km away), face neglect at the centre. Complaints include unhygienic surroundings, discarded medical waste, and doctors allegedly diverting maternity cases to private clinics for financial gain. This practice, Sharma claimed, forces poor families to spend large sums unnecessarily.

Expressing outrage, Sharma declared that the Kamrup Gorkha Students’ Union, with public support, will expose the corruption at the health centre. He announced plans to escalate the matter to senior officials, including the Kamrup District Commissioner and newly elected Boko-Chaygaon MLA Raju Mech, urging the state government to initiate strict action.

Report: Gobinda Sharma- President, Kamrup District Commmittee.