With the Centrally funded Trauma Care Centres (TCCs) in the three medical college and hospitals along with three other district headquarter hospitals (DHHs) running far behind the schedule, State Government has set a three-month deadline for operationalising the facilities.
A high-level meeting chaired by Health Secretary PK Mohapatra on Monday reviewed the status of the TCCs in the medical colleges and DHHs and decided to expedite works so that they can attain full-fledged functionality by August.
The SCB Medical College and Hospital at Cuttack, MKCG Medical College and Hospital at Berhampur and VSSMCH at Burla along with the DHHs of Balasore, Bhadrak and Khurda and Rourkela Government Hospital were approved by the Centre for setting up the TCCs. The Centre has provided ` 20.90 crore for the TCCs.
However, almost all the TCCs have been non-starters, thanks to delay in construction works as well as infusion of required equipment and manpower. The multi-speciality Level-1 TCC at the SCBMCH Cuttack was declared open in 2012 to escape the wrath of the Orissa High Court. But it has been functioning for namesake only. The TCC established at a cost of Rs six crore was to have around 150 beds, two modern OTs, 16-bed ICU, recovery rooms and other ancillary facilities.
But even after more than a year since its opening, it merely serves as an extension of the Casualty ward. Lack of adequate equipment and staff has proved a bane for the facility that was developed with the prime objective of providing multi-speciality treatment to accident victims with multiple trauma and injuries.
Taking note of lack of interdisciplinary coordination for management of the facilities, the Health Department has decided that they would would function under the stewardship of Head of Orthopaedics Department. The Government would take steps to appoint staff and manpower as per the guidelines of the Centre and all required equipment would be procured within a month, the meeting decided.