As per Punekar News:
Families of serving defence personnel stationed at the National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla, have raised serious concerns over the alleged absence of dedicated paediatric healthcare facilities at the NDA Military Hospital, claiming that parents of infants and young children are being forced to travel long distances for routine medical consultations.
According to multiple serving officers and defence personnel familiar with the situation, the NDA Military Hospital currently does not have a dedicated paediatrician despite a large number of serving personnel residing on the campus with their families, including newborns and young children.
Sources told Punekar News that until recently, a paediatrician from the Military Hospital, Khadki, visited the NDA every Friday to examine children on the campus. However, they alleged that the arrangement has been discontinued after vehicle support for transporting the visiting doctor was withdrawn by the Commandant, leaving families without regular specialist care within the academy premises.
As a result, parents are now reportedly compelled to travel either to the Military Hospital in Khadki or the Command Hospital in Pune Cantonment for paediatric consultations, causing inconvenience, particularly for families with newborn babies and sick children.
Personnel also alleged that the NDA hospital frequently faces shortages of essential medicines, forcing beneficiaries to procure medicines from outside despite the academy receiving substantial funds for healthcare infrastructure and medical services.
Serving personnel questioned why an institution of the NDA’s stature, which caters to thousands of cadets and defence families, does not have a permanent paediatric specialist or an alternative arrangement to ensure uninterrupted child healthcare services. The allegations have sparked concerns about whether the existing medical infrastructure is adequate to meet the healthcare needs of families residing inside one of the country’s premier military establishments.
NDA Yet to Respond
Seeking clarification, Punekar News sent a detailed questionnaire to the National Defence Academy on June 22, requesting its response on several issues, including:
- Whether the NDA Military Hospital currently has a full-time or visiting paediatrician.
- Whether the weekly visit by the Khadki Military Hospital paediatrician has been discontinued and, if so, why.
- Whether vehicle support for transporting the visiting doctor has been withdrawn.
- What arrangements are currently in place for paediatric consultations.
- Whether families are being directed to Military Hospital, Khadki, or Command Hospital for treatment.
- The current status of medicine availability at the NDA hospital.
- Whether there are plans to strengthen paediatric and outpatient healthcare services.
Despite repeated reminders, the academy had not responded to the questionnaire till the time of publication. In the absence of an official response, Punekar News is publishing the concerns raised by serving personnel while awaiting the NDA’s version.
