With OTs being stalled and patients writhing in sweltering conditions in the wards due to defunct ACs and the administration turning a blind eye to the problems, the State Government has finally decided to intervene in the affairs of the SCB Medical College and Hospital.
Health and Family Welfare Secretary PK Mohapatra on Tuesday directed the hospital administration and agencies concerned to take steps on a war footing to repair or replace the air-conditioners in the OTs and major wards. Mohapatra on Tuesday visited the hospital to take stock of the situation and held a meeting with the heads of different departments on issues and problems in their respective facilities.
With dysfunctional air-conditioners raising a storm, he directed the GED wing of the hospital to conduct a thorough survey of the cooling systems across departments and repair all the systems within three days. A committee was also formed under Superintendent Prof Shyama Kanungo to float a comprehensive tender and select a competent agency to handle the maintenance of the ACs and cooling systems in the hospital.
The situation at the premier health institution has come to such a state that surgeons of the Neurosurgery Department were forced to conduct critical brain surgeries by using table fans in the OTs. The Secretary also stated that the hospital would soon have dedicated power supply to alleviate the problems of power outages and low voltage. The work undertaken by power utility CESU has entered its final stages and would be made operational in next couple of months. All the Departments would also be connected with automatic generators for uninterrupted power supply to the facilities and wards, Mohapatra said.
The review meeting also discussed the increase of seats in the medical college from 150 to 250 and the state of infrastructure and facilities to sustain the added student intake.
The HoDs have been asked to submit a list of the shortcomings and requirements to the Health Department within a week.
