Cuttack: Shortage of doctors at the Hepatology and Endocrinology departments of the Sriram Chandra Bhanja Medical College and Hospital (SCBMCH) is likely to affect teaching as well as healthcare facility at the premier state-run institute.
Just a few days ago, the state government has allowed the SCBMCH to open four intensive care units (ICUs) at the Hepatology department. Moreover, the equipment required for the ICUs have already been procured by the hospital authorities, sources said.
Last year, the Medical Council of India (MCI) had permitted the Hepatology department of SCBMCH to start postgraduate teaching, sources added.
At present, the Hepatology department has 38 beds and at least 300 patients are admitted to the department in a month. This apart, around 1,500 patients usually visit the department in a month to get the outdoor treatment.
However, the authorities concerned are yet to appoint doctors to the vacant posts at the Hepatology department. An AIIMS-pass out doctor had been appointed as an assistant professor on a contractual basis at the department in 2013.
The hospital authorities recently initiated a process to appoint another doctor on a contractual basis to the department. However, they are yet to get a suitable candidate for the post, said a source.
“The Hepatology department has now only a professor and an associate professor as permanent staff. The hospital authorities are yet to regularise the job of the AIIMS-pass out doctor. If the doctor concerned resigns from the post, then the department will face a lot of problems to manage the ICUs, postgraduate course and healthcare facility,” added the source.
The Endocrinology department of SCB is now running with a lone assistant professor. A doctor who was heading the department had retired from his service in June this year.
Moreover, an associate professor of the department had opted for voluntary retirement last year. Now, a senior doctor from the nephrology department has been asked to look after the administrative affair of the Endocrinology department.
“The Endocrinology department has 20 beds and around 2,000 patients usually visit the department in a month. The indoor healthcare at the department has been stopped due to the shortage of doctors,” said a health staff on conditions of anonymity.
SCBMCH principal Datteswar Hota said they have raised the issue with the state government. “We are waiting for the state government’s decision in this regard,” he added.
