Power outage disrupts radiology services at SCB Hospital in Cuttack; officials seek response from Tata Power

An incident at SCB Medical College and Hospital (SCBMCH) in Cuttack resulted on Sunday in a temporary halt of services in the Radiology Department, leaving patients in distress. The disruption occurred due to a power outage that allegedly lasted over 45 minutes, impacting several critical tests.

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"Powercut continued for more than 45 minutes and we suffered like anything," some patients and their attendants alleged.

Patients, including those in critical condition, experienced notable delays, leading to visible frustration and dissatisfaction. The episode highlights ongoing issues faced by healthcare facilities in Odisha regarding infrastructure and emergency preparedness.

Insufficient power backup systems in the government-run health facilities continue to be a significant concern, especially when dealing with life-saving procedures and diagnostics.

What the SCBMCH Registrar says

“Power outage by TPCODL (Tata Power) persisted for around half an hour. An alternate arrangement to provide uninterrupted power supply through DG set also hampered due to a technical glitch,” the Registrar of SCBMCH, Subash Chandra Rai said to OTV.

“I have sought reports from the TPCODL and our grid in this regard. Henceforth, we will be careful to ensure that such power outages do not occur in future,” the senior SCBMCH official asserted when contacted.

Power outages often impact patient care at SCBMCH

Worth mentioning, power disruptions often pose serious threats to patient care at the government-run health facility. Essential medical equipment, including life support systems, relies on continuous electricity. Outages can interrupt surgeries, diagnostic procedures, and monitoring, potentially leading to life-threatening situations.

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Power outages usually stem from various factors, including equipment failures within the hospital’s electrical system, grid issues, and extreme weather events.