SAMBALPUR: AUTONOMY to VSS Institute of Medical Science and Research (VIMSAR) is turning to bemisnomer with staff crisis forcing the premier hospital of Western Odisha to shut down its Cardiology Department temporarily. Absence of required number of doctors has forced the authorities to take the tough decision. The Department of Cardiology should have one Professor, one Associate Professor, two Assistant Professors and three Senior Residents.
But, it was being managed by Prof Suresh Sahoo, Associate Prof Sunil Sharma, Assistant rof Bijay Das besides one doctor from Medicine Department Ajay Kumar Rout. Bijay Das was deputed on ad hoc basis and left VIMSAR after qualifying in OPSC. While Das is now posted at SCB Medical, Cuttack, Ajay qualified for Diplomate of National Board (DNB) in Cardiology and left for Apollo Hospital in Hyderabad to pursue the same.
This has left the department with just two doctors - Suresh Sahoo and Sunil Sharma - to manage the affairs of ICU, indoor, outdoor and emergency. Defending the decision, Sharma said they are already struggling with staff shortage and admission of patients in indoor would reflect on the facilities offered by the department. He admitted that it is essential for emergency patients to get admitted in the ward and remain under the supervision of a doctor. But, in the absence of doctors, it is impossible to admit patients till new doctors are posted. They are left with only ne option of referring serious patients to SCB Medical, Cuttack. Superintendent of VIMSAR, Braja Mohan Mishra said higher authorities have been apprised of the crisis and requested to post Cardiologists mmediately.
Till the time doctors are not posted, cardiology patients willbe admitted to medicine ward. The two Cardiologists will be on emergency duty on rotational basis and treat the patients in the medicine ward.