Healthcare services at Puri Sadar hospital in a shambles

Puri: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had inaugurated the six-storey Maternity and Child Health (MCH) Centre building at the Puri Sadar hospital in 2015. The building was expected to improve the healthcare services, especially for mothers and newborns. However, lack of basic amenities in the building has raised concerns for both patients and their attendants.

The MCH building has reportedly only one toilet block which is being used by both attendants as well as patients. The building, which was built at an estimated cost of Rs 100 core, lacks basic facilities. As the lift is lying defunct, patients are suffering as the labour room is at the fourth floor while the mother and children care unit is at the fifth floor.

"We are facing a lot of problems here. Patients are finding difficulties in getting bed and most of the time they undergo treatment on the verandah. Women and men are using a single toilet which is also not even usable," alleged an attendant, Geetanjali Parida.

Another attendant, Annapurna Baral said, "I came here two days ago as my daughter was serious. I had to put her on verandah as there was no bed available. Those coming as attendants to the hospital are also getting sick due to lack of proper sanitation here."

However, Puri CDMO Amrendra Nath Mohanty doesn't seem to be taking the allegations seriously. "In the MCH building, we have a total of 100 beds. As the number of patients is more in Puri, all the beds are occupied most of the time."

On the toilet issue, Mohanty said that the concerned department has already been informed to repair it. Meanwhile, it seems to be a matter of grave concern as there is every possibility of children getting sick due to poor sanitation measures.