TV
Several patients at the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, Odisha’s foremost hospital, are experiencing considerable distress as a result of mismanagement concerning battery-operated vehicles used for internal transport.
As per reports, these vehicles, intended to facilitate patient movement between wards and diagnostic areas, are in short supply or unavailable, causing delays and discomfort.
The widespread issue affects many patients and their attendants. Take the case of Akshay Patnaik from Keonjhar, who faced undue hardship while transporting his wife, Surabhi, for a CT scan in the stifling heat.
The lack of available transport is forcing many patients to rely on stretchers or wheelchairs, a considerable inconvenience, especially for elderly patients, some of whom were left waiting on stretchers outside for assistance.
"I have to take my wife for a CT scan from the medicine ward. I have been calling for a battery-operated vehicle umpteen times. However, I am finding the help desk always busy. Now, I have no alternative but to wait for a stretcher. However, it is also taking a long time to arrive," rued Akshay Patnaik, attendant of a patient.
The State Government had introduced battery-operated vehicles at SCB Medical to address patient transport needs. However, their presence seems insufficient, and the absence of a dedicated assistance centre only exacerbates the difficulty of arranging these vehicles by phone.
Calls to the help desk are allegedly ignored, leaving patients and their families frustrated. Complaints highlight that, out of the 20 vehicles at SCB, two are currently non-functional, and others are not adequately charged. Allegations have surfaced about staff using charging facilities for personal electric scooters.
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"Though the government has provided all the facilities at the SCB Medical College and Hospital, the employees are not doing their duties properly. I request that the government have proper surveillance. Due to mismanagement, patients are not able to avail the facilities of the battery-operated vehicles," rued J Kameswar Roy, Corporator of Ward No.35.
Efforts for Improvement promised
Though officials from the assistance centre have not provided comments, the SCB Registrar has stated that a request has been made for 10 additional vehicles from HUDCO. The assurance is that these will facilitate a 24-hour service for patient transport once more resources are procured.
"The battery-operated vehicles are not sufficient for the patients. We have requested HUDCO to provide us with 10 more such vehicles. As per the decision of the former administrators, it was decided that the battery-run vehicles will not run after 11 pm till 5 am. We will take stock of the situation now. If required, we will start operation of the battery-run vehicles at night for the patient's care," said SCB Registrar.
Given that SCB Medical caters to around 3,000 patients daily, the inadequacies of its transport system pose serious concerns about efficiency and patient care.
