Berhampur: Despite the MKCG Medical College and Hospital being the lifeline for people in Ganjam and Gajapati districts, it does not have a burn care unit. As a result, all burn cases are referred to either the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack or to treatment centres in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. Despite the state government facilitating treatment, by modernising the hospital, the lack of a burn care unit continues to haunt all. There have been many cases when severe burn patients have breathed their last en route to other hospitals.
Locals pointed out that the authorties or the Health department should immediately set up a centre for treatment of patients with burn injuries. A plea to this effect has been filed by social worker Rabindra Kumar Mishra with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). He has asked NHRC to instruct the Odisha government to set up a burn care unit in MKCG at the earliest. There is a high rate of burn injuries during summer. On many occasions, such patients are admitted to the General Ward at the MKCG as it would be too dangerous to send them to other hospitals. Just a couple of days back, a lady, identified as Supriya Bastarai of Raiponka village in Gajapati district was brought to the MKCG with severe burn injuries.
However, the hospital refused to admit her as there were no treatment facilities. Another patient died while on the way to Cuttack. February 9, 2021, 27 persons suffered serious burn injuries in the Mendaraj bus tragedy under Golanthara police limits. All of them were brought to MKCG, but 12 of them died due to lack of treatment. Immediately after that the hospital authorities had announced the setting up of a burn care unit.
However, it still remains a distant dream. It should be pointed out that locals have repeatedly appealed to the Odisha government for a burn unit at the MKCG, but to no avail. Sources pointed out that at an average, 30 severe burn cases come to the MKCG every month. Only a few lucky ones manage to survive while many of them die en route to other hospitals.
