Bhograi: Even as a campaign for a government medical college in Bhadrak has been on over last several months, people in Bhograi area in Balasore district have raised the issue of a sub-divisional level hospital here Wednesday.
A local outfit named Hospital Pratisha Committee has called for an agitation December 5.
The committee has several other demands like filling up of vacancies in all hospitals in the block, provision of necessary medical tools and facilities there.
Bhograi is said to be the biggest block in the state with a population of over 3.5 lakh. There are two CHCs at Kamarda and Jaleswarpur, apart from eight PHCs at different places.
Only one doctor handles the healthcare services at Kamarda CHC while three are in Jaleswarpur CHC.
Healthcare in various areas is in a shambles as hospitals at Chandaneswar, Shradhapur, Dahmunda and Nimatpur do not have doctors. At some hospitals, pharmacists have to look after patients while nurses and ANMs take care of patients, the committee said.
Bhograi is a fringe area of the state. It is about 100 km from the district headquarters hospital. People in the area take a long time to reach the DHH for treatment while in some case patients die on way to the DHH. Ambulance takes at least two and a half hours to carry a patient to the hospital.
The committee pointed out that people in the area have long been suffering due to ailing healthcare system and demanding a sub-divisional level hospital.
Its president Srish Kumar Das, executive president Pankajakhya Panda and secretary Harishankar Das said the committee has decided to organise a mass convention in front of the Jaleswarpur CHC December 5 to press for the issue.
PNN
