Basta: Even as healthcare services are allegedly in a mess in parts of Balasore district, Union Minister Pratap Chandra Sarangi visited the Basta community health centre Wednesday.
Accompanied by BJP leader Raghunath Mohanty and other party leaders, Sarangi inspected all the wards of the health centre.
Locals drew the minister’s attention towards the problems plaguing the health centre.
Sarangi interacted with medical officer Debabrata Jena and got to know of the shortcomings faced by the hospital.
The Union minister voiced his concern over the vacancies in doctor posts.
The hospital was thronged by curious crowds after they knew of the minister’s visit.
Many people told the Union minister that the shortage of doctors has been hitting healthcare services while medicines are not available and sanitation in the hospital in poor.
“In the 50-bed hospital, 24-hour service for expectant mothers and emergency patients is not available. In those cases, patients are referred to the district headquarters hospital,” locals alleged.
The Union minister saw some beds were uncovered while patients had not been provided bed sheets.
Some nurses said patients often take away bed sheets with them. Such statements of the nurses triggered discontent among the people.
Sarangi said he would take up the issues with the District Collector.