During his 20- minute stay at the AMRI Hospital, the Prime Minister offered to fly in country’s top doctors to help the medical team involved in providing treatment to Basu, who was admitted to the hospital on last Friday after he complained of breathing problems.

“The Prime Minister offered help and asked us whether we need the assistance from top doctors of All India Institute of Medical Sciences or any part of the country. He also asked whether the infrastructure here was sufficient,” said cardiologist A K Maity who is heading Basu’s medical team.

Singh also spoke to the nonagenarian leader’s son, Chandan Basu, and offered him help. “I am moved with his gesture. He asked me whether I was satisfied with the current treatment being given to my father. I told him that I was satisfied with the doctors’ efforts and my father was being treated very well,” Chandan told The Indian Express.

Amid tight security, Prime Minister reached AMRI Hospital in Salt Lake around 1 pm. He was accompanied by Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and Pranab Mukherjee. They were directly led to the special ICCU cubicle on the 6th floor of the hospital where the doctors showed Basu’s medical report to them.

The doctors, who are not allowing the high profile visitors to go close to the ICU, however, made exception for Singh. “We allowed the Prime Minister to go close to the patient,” said a senior doctor of the hospital.

Other leaders who visited the hospital to see Basu were CPM general secretary Prakash Karat, Politburo member Sitaram Yechury and party leader Brinda Karat.

Karat reached hospital after the Prime Minister’s left the spot.

According to CPM sources, he was scheduled to visit earlier but his flight got delayed by fog.

“Everything necessary is being done for his (Basu’s) recovery,” Karat told mediapersons outside the hospital.

Yechury, meanwhile, said that the medical board will meet to discuss the Prime Minister’s offer to rope in doctors from other parts of the country.

“The medical board will discuss and take an appropriate decision,” he added.

Though Basu’s dependence on blood pressure reducing drugs and ventilation was reduced to partial support, doctors said his condition was “very serious” and there was no significant improvement except for a few positive developments.

“His haemoglobin count has improved but his condition is still critical. He has been given a high dose of antibiotics which have side-effects. It will take some more time for him to respond to the drugs,” said Dr Maity.