SLN Medical College & Hospital grapples with several operational challenges since establishment

Odisha’s Saheed Laxman Nayak Medical College and Hospital (SLN Medical College) in Koraput is grappling with several operational challenges since its establishment in 2017, impacting the delivery of healthcare services to patients.

Commonly known as S.L.N. Medical College & Hospital, the premier medical institute has been facing a steady decline in the quality of healthcare services. 

Ambulance Shortage and Maintenance Gaps:

One of the most significant issues is the lack of ambulances at the facility. The institution faces a shortage of ambulances, insufficient for its operational needs. The hospital premises have not had any repainting since the college's inauguration, raising maintenance concerns.

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Furthermore, neither the medical college nor the hospital has been provided with paint since their establishment. There has also been no arrangement for raising funds to support the operations, which has contributed to the lack of necessary improvements.

The hospital's facilities have also been a cause for concern, with NIRAMAYA (govt’s free medicine distribution centre) and registration being located in the same area. This has resulted in congestion for both patients and their relatives, further complicating the situation.

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What Locals Say:

Expressing concerns over the current situation of the medical college and hospital, Ramesh Biswal, a local resident said, “There are many issues that we locals are facing, such as leakages in certain areas, water accumulating at places that cannot be mopped, and the unbearable foul smell from the toilets. The doctors who come here to treat patients are not very reliable; they leave after a few days and do not properly diagnose or treat patients. None of the local people know them, which poses a bigger problem as the patients cannot get fully cured because of this.”

Trinath Panda, an intellectual said, “It has been 7-8 years since the medical college was established. PG departments for any medical field have not been opened as the authorities always make excuses, claiming they do not have enough land or buildings. But they have been allotted 80 acres of land and have possession of 70 acres. The authorities are not doing anything to acquire more land.”

Steps Being Taken To Address The Issues:

To address these concerns, a review is being conducted of the medical and college facilities, including the development of the foundation. A meeting chaired by the Koraput district collector took place to discuss a variety of critical issues. Topics discussed included painting the hospital, water accumulation in various departments, water leakage, blocked toilets, lifts, generators, additional water supply, waste management, the sickle cell project, and the need for ultrasound, MRI, and CT scans.

Outcome Of The Meetings Shared By A Local Resident:

Arun Sahoo, another local resident said, “Various meetings are often held at the Zilla Parishad, at the hospital, and at DISHA to address the matter, where local representatives also participate, but no action is taken to resolve the issues. Nothing is done after that, and the hospital has never been painted since it was built.”

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What Hospital Authorities Say:

Responding to the accusations of the locals, Sushant Kumar Sahoo, director of S.L.N. Medical College & Hospital said, “We have spoken with the district administration, other concerned authorities, and engineers from various departments to establish a plan to ensure things run smoothly.”

“For now, we are managing the cleaning work at our level. We are overseeing the cleaning of floors, toilets, and surrounding areas to manage the situation. To make it more efficient, we are collecting a 'satisfactory certificate' on a monthly basis from the heads of each department,” he added further.

A review of the situation was also conducted during the DISHAA meeting at the district council level. While concerns about the medical college and hospital continue to mount, the issues remain unresolved. Local residents and stakeholders are hopeful that the ongoing discussions will lead to timely interventions and improvements, as the community awaits necessary reforms in healthcare services.