Contrary to the Odisha government’s much-touted claim on healthcare transformation under 5T, a sorry state of healthcare came to the fore on Tuesday at Derabishi-Chhata Community Health Centre (CHC) in Kendrapara district.
As per reports, patients were treated under mobile light when the electricity supply was disrupted. Though the CHC has a diesel generator, it is reportedly out of order.
One Prashant Sethi of Pattamundai was admitted to the CHC after being injured in an accident. At that time, there was a power cut. The doctor on duty switched on a cell phone light and provided treatment to him.
Later, an elderly person, Sridhar Samal from the Kurujang area came to the CHC and he was treated similarly.
Local people alleged that thousands of people from 26 panchayats depend on the CHC for their healthcare needs, but the facility has been witnessing power outages.
Basant Sethi, an attendant of a patient, said, “When we came to the CHC, it was dark and the doctor on duty was moving outside the hospital speaking on the phone. There was no light. We switched on our mobile light and the doctor started treatment.”
The medical officer in-charge of the CHC, Dr Sandip Kumar said, "Power outage took place at 5 pm. We are looking for the faults. The DG set is there but it is not working.”