At a time when the Odisha government is making tall claims of improving health services, recent incidents at a public health facility have exposed the real picture of healthcare delivery system in the State.
While Odisha continues to reel under an intense heat wave, the frequent and unscheduled power cuts have not only doubled the trouble but also paralysed healthcare services in the state.
In a recent incident, patients including infants and injured persons were treated with the help of torchlight at Bargarh community health centre amid frequent power cuts.
Nurses were seen administering injections to the patients using torchlight, while people undergoing treatment at different wards of the hospital are spending sleepless nights amid power outages.
Though the health centre has a power generator meant to be used during power cuts, it is lying unused due to the alleged unavailability of diesel.
Meanwhile, such poor services have triggered sharp reactions in the patients and their attendants.
“The patients including the infants undergoing treatment at the hospital are suffering due to frequent power cuts. Necessary measures should be taken for better healthcare delivery,” said Chandraphula Hati, a patient.
“My relative was admitted to the hospital three-four days ago. However, frequent power cuts is giving us sleepless nights. It is becoming very tough to spend a minute inside the hospital without electricity,” said an attendant.
Reacting to the allegations levelled by the patients, Bargarh Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) Charubala Rath said, “I already had a meeting with the hospital superintendent and directed him to take necessary measures to avoid such untoward incidents.”