Four years after Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced to increase the bed capacity of the Rourkela Government Hospital (RGH) from 128 to 400, it still remains only on paper.
And to add to the woes, a dearth of doctors and inadequate infrastructure continues to be a cause of concern for the health facility.
As per reports, more than 1000 patients from Sundargarh district and even from the bordering States come to the outdoor of the RGH to see the doctors. But a shortage of doctors has made them resent.
“The government had promised to make a special ward for Thalassemia patients. But it is yet to happen. The healthcare facilities and infrastructure here should have been better,” said Batakrushna Biswal, an attendant of a patient.
Even the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) targeted the government over this issue. “It is unfortunate that even in these modern times we are failing to provide a bed to expecting mothers. Neither the doctor posts are being filled nor the status of Capital hospital is being accorded as promised,” said BJP Spokesperson Dhiren Senapati.
It is pertinent to mention here that Rourkela Government Hospital and Bhubaneswar's Capital Hospital were started together. While much progress has been made with the opening of the PG department in Capital Hospital, there has been no improvement at the RGH.
Along with the shortage of doctors here, there is also a dearth of other staff.
Asked about the RGH, the Medical Superintendent, Ganesh Prasad Das said, “There is a shortage of doctors here. We have 45 government doctors working here and an additional 13 doctors from the DMF. We have 62 doctor posts vacant here at the RGH. We have a shortage of staff nurses as well.”
As far as beds are concerned, we have 400 functional beds out of which only 268 beds are sanctioned.
Notably, RGH is the only hope for the poor and tribals in the region. It still remains to be seen, when the government actually delivers on its promises and develops the hospital.