Bargarh: With the Bargarh Cancer Hospital remaining non-functional for over a week amid the absence of doctors, resentment has grown among the residents of the western Odisha town.
The issue has drawn greater attention as State Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Mukesh Mahaling also holds charge of the district.
A delegation from the United Forum for Cancer Hospital at Bargarh met Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi Friday and urged immediate steps to make the hospital fully operational.
After receiving their memorandum and holding discussions, the Chief Minister assured that the facility would start functioning soon.
Former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had approved the hospital following demands from the Fighters Group of Bargarh, various organisations, and the United Forum.
By January 2024, the hospital was inaugurated with equipment installed and three doctors and paramedical staff appointed.
The hospital, however, has remained idle for over a week after the appointed doctors left to pursue higher studies, fuelling public discontent.
During Friday’s meeting, forum members pointed out that chemotherapy services had been completely halted.
They said hematinic tablets used alongside chemotherapy were being supplied to Bargarh through the Acharya Harihar Regional Cancer Centre in Cuttack by the Odisha State Medical Corporation Ltd.
(OSMCL), but the quantity was inadequate. The forum demanded that OSMCL supply the medicines directly to Bargarh. Majhi instructed the health minister to take steps to address the issue.
The government, he said, had already reviewed options for hospital management and would act swiftly to make the facility fully operational.
The meeting was attended by Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Mukesh Mahaling, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari, Chief Whip and Boudh MLA Saroj Kumar Pradhan, Sambalpur MLA Jayanarayan Mishra, Bargarh MLA Ashwini Kumar Sarangi, Attabira MLA Nihar Ranjan Mahanand, Bijepur MLA Sanat Kumar Gartia, and Bhatli MLA Irasis Acharya, among others.
Later, the delegation met Mahaling separately, pressing him to expedite the hospital’s activation and ensure direct supply of hematinic tablets in adequate quantities.
Mahaling assured that immediate instructions would be issued.
The delegation included forum convener Pradeep Debata, chief coordinator Krushnachandra Panda, coordinators Rabi Panda, Pratap Nayak, Deepak Rath, Bharat Sahu, Gopal Sharma, and Dipesh Joshi.
PNN
