'Ailing healthcare': 95-yr-old hospital in Bhubaneswar suburbs runs with lone deputed doctor, pharmacist

The sorry state of affairs of healthcare in Odisha has been exposed again as a Primary Health Centre (PHC) at Bhingarpur in Khordha district on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar languishes in neglect.

The PHC which caters to healthcare needs of more than 50,000 people from five panchayats has only one doctor and one pharmacist. The pharmacist is reportedly forced to see patients and prescribe medicines on the week-offs and leaves of the doctor.

The hospital building is in no good condition either. Sometimes pieces of cement plaster fall from the roof endangering the patients.

“Bhingarpur hospital is one of the oldest hospitals. It has been functioning even before Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar came into existence. It will turn 100 in a few years, but people can’t get a decent healthcare here. We have written to all the concerned departments, even staged protests, but the situation has not improved a bit,” lamented a villager from Bhingarpur, Prasanna Sahu.

The locals demanded to upgrade this hospital to a Community Health Centre (CHC) so that more doctors and staff could be appointed there.

“At least 50,000 people from five panchayats depend on this hospital. But no improvement has happened here in healthcare. There are not enough staff. The hospital building is in a dilapidated condition. We do not know when the roof will fall. We demand to upgrade this hospital to a CHC,” demanded a local, Sura Ray.

“We have a serious shortage of staff in this hospital. One doctor comes here at 10am and leaves by 2pm. There is no doctor to treat people after that. They are forced to go to Bhubaneswar,” said another local Ranjan Paramanik.

Speaking to OTV, Bhingarpur PHC Pharmacist, Sanjay Kumar Das said, “At least 70 to 80 patients visit this hospital every day. When the doctor goes on leave, I have to manage the healthcare here. ANM post has been vacant in this hospital for the last three years. A doctor has come here on deputation. Except me, all the other positions are lying vacant.”

As the shortage of healthcare personnel has become a never-ending affair in almost all the PHCs and CHCs across Odisha, the locals of Bhingarpur have demanded to fill all the positions at the PHC as soon as possible.