DIGBOI, Oct 24: The declining patient turnout and deteriorating condition of the historic 200-bed Assam Oil Division (AOD) Hospital in Digboi have drawn renewed attention after National Health Mission (NHM), Assam, Executive Director Dr Abhijit Sharma expressed dissatisfaction with the number of patients during a recent inspection.
The visit followed an appeal by local MLA Suren Phukan to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, seeking government intervention to restore the hospital’s functioning. The state government is assessing the facility, with a public-private partnership (PPP) model among the options being considered for its revival.
“MLA sir had informed us about this hospital, following which the Chief Minister advised us to visit and inspect the facility. We have come here and found that there is a lot of potential, but I am not satisfied with the patient load. For a hospital of this size, the number of patients should have been much higher,” Sharma said.
He added that the authorities were evaluating the situation and would communicate the next steps after completing the assessment.
Operated by Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), the hospital was established by the British in 1938 near the Digboi Refinery, widely recognised as Asia’s first oil refinery. It was once a major healthcare facility in the Northeast, attracting patients from across the region.
For decades, the hospital served Digboi and neighbouring areas, with long queues of patients reportedly a common sight. Residents, however, said its services had deteriorated in recent years, raising concerns about access to healthcare in Upper Assam.
Locals attributed the decline in patient numbers to an alleged shortage of doctors and other medical staff. They also claimed that patients were frequently referred to Dibrugarh, even for relatively minor ailments, reducing the hospital’s usefulness to people seeking treatment closer to home.
The concerns have prompted repeated appeals to IOCL to strengthen staffing and improve medical services. Residents alleged that their grievances had not received adequate attention, contributing to the facility’s declining reputation.
Phukan’s intervention has brought the hospital’s future under consideration by the state government, which is exploring whether a PPP arrangement could help improve its operations. However, details regarding the proposed model, funding, staffing and implementation timeline have yet to be announced.
For residents of Digboi and surrounding areas, restoring the hospital’s services could improve access to medical care and reduce the need to travel to other towns for treatment. The outcome will depend on the government’s assessment and its decision on the way forward.
