Families of serving defence personnel stationed at the National Defence Academy (NDA) in Khadakwasla have expressed significant concerns regarding the lack of dedicated paediatric healthcare services at the NDA Military Hospital. Parents of infants and young children are reportedly struggling to secure routine medical consultations, often necessitating long travels to receive necessary care.
Insiders from the NDA have highlighted the alarming fact that the Military Hospital currently operates without a full-time paediatrician, despite a substantial number of families with young children living on the campus. Previously, a paediatrician from the Military Hospital in Khadki would visit the NDA every Friday to provide essential services; however, this arrangement was reportedly discontinued when vehicle support for the visiting doctor was revoked by the Commandant. This withdrawal has left families without regular access to specialized care within the premises.
In consequence, parents are now frequently compelled to make the trip to either the Military Hospital in Khadki or the Command Hospital in Pune Cantonment for paediatric consultations. This situation poses considerable inconvenience, particularly for those with infants or sick children who may require immediate attention.
Additionally, serving personnel have raised concerns about the NDA hospital’s frequent shortages of essential medicines, which force families to source medications from outside. This issue is particularly troubling considering that the NDA reportedly receives significant funding for healthcare infrastructure and medical services.
Questions continue to swirl among personnel regarding why such a prominent institution, tasked with serving thousands of cadets and defence families, lacks a permanent paediatric specialist or alternative care arrangements. The concerns reflect deeper apprehensions about the adequacy of the current medical infrastructure designed to meet the healthcare needs of families residing in one of the nation’s leading military establishments.
Efforts to obtain clarification from the National Defence Academy were made by Punekar News, which submitted a detailed questionnaire on June 22. The questions aimed to uncover the status of paediatric services at the NDA Military Hospital, including:
– The presence of a full-time or visiting paediatrician.
– Details surrounding the discontinuation of the paediatrician’s weekly visits from Khadki.
– The implications of the withdrawal of vehicle support for the visiting doctor.
– Current arrangements for paediatric consultations, if any.
– Directives given to families regarding treatment locations.
– The availability of essential medicines at the NDA hospital.
– Any forthcoming plans to enhance paediatric and outpatient healthcare services.
As of publication, the NDA had yet to provide responses to these inquiries. In the absence of an official statement, the concerns voiced by serving personnel have been brought to light, highlighting the critical need for enhanced healthcare services at the academy.
