The Odisha government’s tall claims to transform the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack into a world-class hospital proved hollow as the entire hospital was without power supply for nearly over 24 hours, leaving the services crippled.
On Saturday, things were going on at the SCBMCH normally when suddenly the state’s premier health facility plunged into utter darkness. There was no power from 5 am to 7 pm on Saturday, forcing the doctors to treat patients in mobile torch light.
The in and out patients and their relatives were seen fending for themselves. Important services like blood tests, CT scans, X-rays were severely affected. Test reports of patients, including the serious ones, couldn’t be delivered in time.
As if that was not enough, the hospital was in the dark for the entire day on Sunday.
“Those who can afford are taking their patients to somewhere else. But those who can’t afford are sure to take the bodies of their patients,” rued Srikant Sutar, a relative of a patient.
The anger of Srikant speaks volumes of the present state of affairs at SCBMCH. “The government is doing many things. But if a patient doesn’t get service at the right time, what is the use of having the services at the hospitals,” said Pravati Sahu, a patient’s relative who came from Choudwar.
“The government is making tall claims. Crores of money is being spent to improve the health infrastructure. But the situation at the SCBMCH reveals the truth. I think I will take my patient to a private hospital,” said Sangram Sahu, a patient’s relative.
This is not the first time when the SCBMCH blotted its copybook. On May 7, 2022, the allegation of treatment carried out on a patient who had already died had left people shocked. Similarly, OTV had telecast a report on April 20, 2022, on how patients’ relatives were being asked to pawn their mobile phones to take stretchers. And, rainwater flowing in the hospital on August 1, capped it all.
“At a medical which is being transformed into a world-class hospital, power supply is cut off for over 10 hours. How will patients be treated? If such a situation occurs in the future, the superintendent's office will be gheraoed,” said K Kamesh Rao, local corporator.
When contacted over his mobile phone, Superintendent of SCBMCH, Dr Sudhanshu Mishra shifted the blame onto the maintenance staff.
“It would be injudicious to speak about the technical side. If they (maintenance staff) carry out regular checks, such problems can be avoided. I have a request to the electrical department to take steps so that such a problem won’t occur in the future,” said Mishra.