KENDRAPARA: At least 14 women who underwent sterilisation surgeries at the community health centre (CHC) in Rajkanika were allegedly forced to lie on the hospital floor due to an acute shortage of beds on Saturday evening.
Around 20 women arrived at the CHC in the morning to undergo sterilisation at a camp. However, the medical team reportedly reached the hospital around 6 pm, forcing the women along with their family members to wait for more than nine hours before the surgeries began.
After the operations, several women were seen lying on the hospital floor as no beds were available. Videos and photographs of the patients resting on the floor went viral on social media, triggering widespread outrage.
“My wife, along with several other women, had to remain on the floor for nearly four hours after the surgery on Saturday night. It was a painful experience,” alleged Artananda Jena (45) of Taras village under Rajkanika block.
Sunita Rout of Dalikanda village claimed that the women were not only denied beds but also did not receive adequate post-operative care.
Responding to the incident, medical officer of Rajkanika CHC Dr Badal Mohanty said the hospital has only 16 beds of which 10 were already occupied by other patients. “Twenty women attended the sterilisation camp, and 14 had to lie on the floor due to the shortage of beds. Since sterilisation is a minor procedure, all the women were discharged on the same day. The surgeries started late because the medical team arrived behind schedule,” he said.
Dr Mohanty added that steps would be taken to ensure such incidents do not recur.
Chief district medical officer (CDMO) Dr Anita Patnaik said she has directed the medical officer to submit a detailed report on the incident. “Ensuring quality services during family planning camps is essential. Appropriate action will be taken after examining the probe report,” she added.
