Baripada: Pregnant women admitted to Pandit Raghunath Murmu Medical College here in Mayurbhanj district for delivery had a harrowing time as they were asked to move to other nearby hospitals after being taken to the operation theatre(OT) for C Section delivery. The reason the hospital authorities cited was some technical glitch in the autoclave machine needed in OTs.
According to reports, yesterday, women who were already on OT table for delivery were suddenly asked by the hospital authorities to shift to other hospitals as the autoclave machine went kaput. Left with no option, the women were made to bear pain all night risking their lives.
Alleging negligence on part of the hospital authorities and failure to provide proper service, the patients’ relatives complained about the lackadaisical attitude of the doctors. "The hospital staff asked us to keep the patient without food so that surgery can be performed. But all of a sudden, after four C-sections, the doctors informed us that some machine was not working and no further operations can be conducted ," said Gouri Mukhi, a patient's relative.
Another patient’s attendant Ramesh Chandra Behera stated,"They prepared the patient for operation and later informed us to take her to Balasore. We are poor people and have no means to bear expenses, how can we shift our patient all of a sudden?" other patient's relative.
According to sources, more than 30-35 patients come for delivery at PRM Medical College from the district and nearby areas apart from neighbouring Jharkhand and West Bengal. How can the hospital authorities not take precautionary measures and keep alternatives ready when so many people are in need of proper health care system and depend on government hospitals?
"We came here after being referred to many places. We took our patient to Bahalda from where she was referred to Rairangpur and then to Baripada. She is in pain and her health has deteriorated. Now they ask us to take the patient to Balasore," said Arati Sahu, an ASHA worker.
Asked the reason by mediapersons, the head of the department at the hospital, seemed unmoved with the situation and allegations. Rather than answering she asked them to question the Superintendent of the hospital.
"If any machine goes dysfunctional in any department, those in the other department can be fetched temporarily for emergency. However, that was not done. I am aware of the issue and we will resolve the matter soon," said Hospital Superintendent Professor NN Soren.