Bolangir: A severe staff shortage has hit the treatment of critical non-Covid patients in Bhima Bhoi Medical College and Hospital (BBMCH) in this town with ventilators remaining non-functional, a report said.
Critical patients admitted to the intensive care units (ICU) of the hospital are gasping for breath in the absence of ventilators. Many alleged that the health condition of patients instead of getting better was deteriorating due to this reason.
This has sparked sharp resentment among patients and their attendants as they held the authorities responsible for the problem. This has happened as 20 ventilators in the ICU are reportedly not working due to lack of adequate staff to operate them.
As a result, the hospital authorities have been forced to refer critical non-Covid patients to other hospitals for treatment.
On the other hand, the hospital has 35 ventilators which have been put into use for the Covid patients. Dinesh Sharma, a representative of Bolangir MP, has raised similar allegations in this regard.
He alleged that 20 ventilators in the hospital were not working and lying covered up in clothes in the ICU. He alleged that the hospital authorities have overlooked the issue and failed to engage additional persons to operate the ventilators.
When contacted, Dr Mahendra Kumar Nayak, superintendent of the hospital, admitted to the staff shortage. He said 30 ventilators are working for the Covid patients while five more are non-functional due to staff crunch.
PNN