Shantirbazar: A deeply controversial incident has come to light at Shantirbazar District Hospital in Tripura, after a video went viral on social media showing hospital staff and trainees making reel videos to Hindi romantic songs inside an air-conditioned room of the hospital, even as patients waited in long queues outside seeking medical attention.
The video, which surfaced on a Facebook account named “Prasenjit Banik”, shows several employees and trainees posing cheerfully before the camera during what was supposed to be a government-sponsored “Skill Development” training session. The incident has triggered widespread public outrage, with citizens questioning whether taxpayers’ money and government infrastructure were being used to develop professional skills or to produce social media entertainment.
The hospital, which serves as a primary healthcare centre for thousands of residents of the region, has been facing complaints from patients about the unavailability of doctors at critical times. The viral video has further deepened public mistrust, with conscious citizens of Shantirbazar expressing strong resentment over the casual and irresponsible attitude displayed by on-duty staff.
The incident has also raised serious questions about the administrative oversight and monitoring mechanisms within the hospital. Critics point out that just when the hospital was slowly rebuilding its reputation through several positive initiatives, this episode has dealt a significant blow to its credibility.
Citizens and patient groups are now demanding that the hospital authorities and the state Health Department take immediate and strict disciplinary action against those responsible, warning that silence will only embolden such misconduct in the future.