Power outage hits healthcare in Odisha's Koraput Medical College

Frequent power cuts have affected healthcare services to a great extent at Saheed Laxman Naik Medical College and Hospital (SLNMCH) in Koraput, spelling misery for both medical staff and patients.

As per sources, patients and staff at the medical are facing myriad problems as there are frequent blackouts for nearly three to four hours in the evenings on a daily basis in the hospital. 

The disruption in power supply has been causing problems especially for patients. On several occasions, medical staffs have been found treating patients even in emergency units in dark.

As there are no alternate power supply facilities in the medical, doctors have to depend upon cell phone lights in administering injections or providing drugs in darkness, said sources. 

Patients from four districts depend upon this medical for their treatment. However, they have to go through torrid times while undergoing treatment in the hospital due to frequent power cuts and lackadaisical attitude of the staff.

Even important departments like Medicine, Orthopaedics, Ophthalmologist, OPD and Emergency are witnessing darkness due to power cuts for longer period of time.

“It’s quiet unfortunate that we are being treated in the hospital in cell phone light due to frequent power cuts. It is quiet dangerous for a patient.The hospital authorities are playing with the lives of patients, but we are helpless,” said a patient who is being treated at the hospital.

However, the comments from the hospital authorities could not be obtained over the situation.

(Edited by Suryakant Jena)