Is Odisha's Health Care Infrastructure Equipped To Handle Second Wave Of COVID 19 Pandemic?

April 18, 2021 –At Bolangir ‘s Bhimabhoi Medical Covid isolation ward, a Covid patient was seen sitting on the chair with an oxygen cylinder because he did not get bed in the hospital. Some patients were spotted lying on the floor on a mattress as all the 100 beds were occupied there.

Even though some people arrived at the hospital with oxygen cylinders in their cars without ambulance, there was no end to the wait for the hospital bed. Though the superintendent of the Bhimabhoi Medical College Dr. Mahendra Kumar Nayak said that it was due to the sudden rise of patients, he assured to increase the number of beds in a day or two.

But these are some of the horrifying and disturbing pictures which raise questions over the Government’s claims to provide all possible health service to the Covid patients of the State.

Rising numbers and vulnerability

The second wave of the Covid-19 cases in Odisha continues to be in the upward direction raising concerns for all of us. Last year during the peak on 25th Sept 2020, Odisha recorded 4330 Corona positive cases but now on April 19th 2021 Odisha has logged the highest ever 4445 positive cases.

Five district of western Odisha is becoming the most sensitive due to high number of Corona positive cases. Sundergarh has more than 3,400 active infections, while Sambalpur, Bargarh, Nuapadha and Kalahandi are having more than a thousand cases each. Another cause for concern is that neighboring Chhattisgarh which is now one of the hotspots in the country. In the last 24 hours, more than 14,556 people have been diagnosed corona positive and 170 deaths reported there. No doubt the situation is likely to worsen further in the border areas of Chhattisgarh and other nearby districts in Odisha.

Not only in the state, but in the country at large the situation is grim. Corona has broken all records in Maharashtra and Delhi. In the last 24 hours, 68,631 Corona Positive cases have been reported in Maharashtra. In addition, 503 corona patients were lost their lives. Similarly, 25,462 new cases have been identified in Delhi on yesterday in Delhi alone, and 161 corona patients have died.

Health care infrastructure in the state

According to the 15th Finance Commission report, Odisha is the 12th poorest in
doctor–population ratio in the Country. As per WHO norms the doctor- population ratio should be 1:1000, but in Odisha, one doctor is catering to the needs of 1864 people.

The state government’s tall claims over appointing more and more doctors to streamline the health care services at the grassroots sounds hallow as in Odisha continues to languish with a shortfall of 50 percent doctors at the primary health centers (PHCs).

The data obtained through RTI reveals that more than half of the sanctioned doctors’ posts have been lying vacant in Odisha. The State has 8,719 sanctioned doctors’ posts which are suppose to be filled up by regular, ad hoc and contractual doctors. But 4,493 doctors post are laying vacant accounting for 51.53% actual strength.

According to the data only 3,682 regular doctors, 51 ad hoc, 407 contractual doctors and 80 doctors recruited through District Mineral Fund were working as usual by April 2020. As per the Rural Health Statistics 2018-2019 ,the rural health care infrastructure in the State is not sufficient to meet the current population norms.

With a population of 4.19 crore (as per 2011 census) Odisha has one sub center for 5,229 people, one PHC for 27,151 persons and one CHC covers a population of 92,760. Odisha has around 36 thousand hospital beds currently (70% public and 30% private) and needs approximately 160,000 hospital beds to achieve WHO recommended standard of 5 beds per 1000 people.

State Preparedness for Corona

According to the State Health department data, at present the total number of beds for Covid stand at 4198 .Out of which, 1011 are occupied (577of 3206 in Govt hospital and 434 of 992 in private hospitals).

The total numbers of ICUs are 541 out of which 329 are occupied (254 of 300 in private and 75 of 241 in Govt. hospitals). The total number of ventilators at present is 249, out of which 45 are occupied (24 of 141in private and 21 of 108 in Govt. hospital).

The Government authorities said that the situation as of now is under control and the capacity of the beds and intensive care unit (ICU) are being increased in a phased manner, in synergy with rising patients load. Meanwhile night curfew has been imposed in 10 districts with weekend shutdowns to break the chain of infections.

Despite all efforts, the question remains can Odisha Govt handle this second wave Covid 19 pandemic situation with this poor health care infrastructure?