A building and a signboard are all that the trauma care unit (TCU) at the Bhadrak District Headquarters Hospital have. Although the building was inaugurated by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik last week, it does not have much to boast about.
The Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport had decided to open TCUs in accident prone districts of Bhadrak, Balasore, Khurda, Ganjam and Cuttack in 2000. This TCU was to be set up in Bhadrak DHH to provide immediate quality treatment to people injured in accident on the national highways.
The cost of the TCU project was `4.65 crore then and the Centre had sanctioned a certain amount for the infrastructure. The TCU was to have a separate building with an operation theatre and wards for in-patients, over 20 modern medical instruments, own staff and doctors.
It was planned to recruit 13 doctors, five technicians for OT, four radiographers, two laboratory assistants and 25 staff nurses.
According to the project report, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and National Highway Authority of India (NHIA) were to fund the infrastructure and equipment while the State will bear the salaries of its staff and cost of maintenance. Though the project had to be completed within a year, the inordinate delay has raised questions on the feasibility of the TCU. Till date, the unit has neither equipment nor doctors and staff nurses.
The District Headquarters Hospital authorities are, however, positive about starting the TCU soon.
Chief District Medical Officer Ajit Mohanty said money for the unit has been allotted and work assigned to district unit of Road & Buildings Department. He attributed the delay to land issues. “But we are now taking measures to expedite the work and make the unit functional soon,” he said.