Tripura, 29 April: Tension and public outrage have emerged after a private hospital advertisement was found displayed inside the premises of Dharmanagar District Hospital, raising serious questions about administrative oversight and ethics in public healthcare spaces.
According to reports, a large promotional board of a multi-specialty nursing home had been installed inside the hospital boundary. The advertisement highlighted 24-hour emergency services and cashless treatment under the Ayushman scheme, which triggered strong reactions among patients and visitors. Many expressed concern that such promotions inside a government hospital could mislead patients and erode trust in public healthcare services.
Hospital authorities responded swiftly. Medical Superintendent Bhaskar Das stated that the matter was brought to his attention recently, following which immediate steps were taken to remove the advertisement.
He clarified that no permission had been granted for displaying any private promotional material inside the hospital premises. Staff were deployed promptly to dismantle the board, and a formal notice has been issued to the concerned private hospital responsible for putting up the advertisement.
“Government premises cannot be used for private promotions. We neither permit nor encourage such activities,” he said, adding that the hospital administration was not informed prior to the installation.
Meanwhile, local residents and observers have raised suspicions, claiming that such an incident may not have been possible without higher-level backing. The focus has now shifted to the North Tripura District Health Department, with growing demands for a thorough investigation and stricter enforcement to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
