Puri: Healthcare services are deteriorating at the district headquarters hospital (DHH) here, the only International Standard Organisation (ISO)-certified hospital in the state, with the passing of each day.
Often coming under fire due to worsening healthcare services, the DHH is once again in news after several patients and their relatives remained stuck inside one of the lifts of the maternal and child healthcare (MCH) centre for about 45 minutes Saturday night.
Sources said the seven-storey MCH building was constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 20 crore during the 2015 Nabakalebara festival. However, waste water often overflows on the floors of the building and soiled water from toilets gush to various wards due to sub-standard construction work.
The two lifts at the MCH often breakdown as they too are not maintained properly. They developed technical glitches in more than 60 instances in the past one year alone. As water gushes the lifts, there is always the possibility of electric short-circuits, sources said. As the lifts remain defunct most of the time, pregnant women admitted to the MCH are forced to use the stairs to reach their respective wards.
While the city is reeling under scorching heat, the acute shortage of drinking water at the hospital has made the lives of the patients here nothing less than hell. The water purifiers installed at the MCH are also lying defunct. On the other hand, the refrigerator in front of the Aahar centre only dispenses hot water, sources said.
Sources said hundreds of patients depend on the DHH for their treatment. However, patients visiting the hospital face considerable inconvenience due to shortage of doctors and other para medical staff. More than half of the sanctioned posts of doctors, staff nurse and other staff are lying vacant at the hospital. Besides, absenteeism of doctors at outpatient department (OPD) is a grave concern.
Source said the Niramaya Yojana launched by the state government in 2015 to supply free medicines to patients is a total flop at the hospital. Patients are also deprived of quality treatment at the hospital. In spite of frequent questions being raised on the degrading healthcare services, no step is being taken to improve the situation. The CDMO himself often remains absent from the district headquarters, it was alleged.
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