Bargarh: After much hue and cry over demand for conversion of old District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) into City Hospital, CM Naveen Patnaik today announced that the old hospital would be transformed into an Urban Community Health Centre (CHC) very soon.
The announcement came after the CM held discussion with Minister Susant Singh, MP Prasanna Acharya, MLA Debesh Acharya and former minister Bimbadhar Kuanr at the Lok Seva Bhawan today.
The proposed 30-bedded CHC will provide all kinds of emergency and OPD services, said sources.
The CM also directed that facilities like free ambulance and bus services would be provided to patients and attendants for travelling between the old and new DHH, which is located about 10 km from the Bargarh town.
Earlier in the day, State Health and Family Welfare Minister Naba Kishore Das assured that the state government will soon take a decision regarding conversion of old DHH building in Bargarh Town into a City Hospital. The assurance came after a delegation led by senior BJP leader and party MP from the constituency, Suresh Pujari met the Minister at Lok Seva Bhawan today.
The Health Minister also informed that arrangements will be made in the DHH to ensure 24-hour treatment. Das further stated that the CM has taken a decision to establish cancer hospital in the town. “A delegation led by Suresh Pujari held a discussion regarding the conversion of DHH into city hospital and 24-hour healthcare delivery facilities in the hospital,” stated the Health Minister.
“CM Naveen Patnaik has already announced establishment of a cancer hospital in Bargarh and therefore, the residents should thank the CM,” added Das.
It is pertinent to mention that Pujari along with the party delegation met Governor Ganeshi Lal and intimated him about the crisis in Bargarh prevailing since last three days. They also informed the Governor about the alleged dilly-dallying attitude of the government to develop the situation in the DHH.
On February 2, Pujari through a letter to the CMO (Chief Minister’s Office) demanded the government to consider the situation favourably and convert the old HQ hospital as the City Hospital with appointment of adequate doctors and para-medical staff in the hospital. Pujari had also urged the CM for establishment of a full-fledged ultra-modern ‘Cancer Hospital-Cum-Research Institute’ in the town.
Since a long time, the Bargarh residents were demanding the conversion of old DHH building into City Hospital. However, the situation flared up after the DHH was shifted to Tukurla, about 10 km from Bargarh town, on February 1. Protesting the shifting, locals also observed bandh in the town on February 3 and 4.