Odisha: Jagatsinghpur district hospital reels under shortage of doctors, beds

Jagatsinghpur: The condition of the Jagatsinghpur district headquarters hospital (DHH) in Odisha continues to deteriorate as the hospital has reported a severe shortage of doctors and beds along with poor infrastructural conditions, which is seriously affecting patient healthcare. 

A number of patients could be seen receiving treatment on the floors, while many are being referred to other hospitals for treatment. The hospital has around 266 beds, which is not adequate to accommodate all the patients.

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Back in 2021, the Health Department issued an order to increase the bed strength of the hospital to around 300. However, it did not come to fruition due to the shortage of space at the hospital. 

The hospital is also reeling under a major shortage of doctors. Medical Dialogues team had last year reported about the poor healthcare services at the hospital due to doctors' shortage, as the hospital was functioning with only 22 employees at that time which was around one-third of the total strength needed to run the hospital smoothly. 

Currently, the outpatient department with the 10 bedded ICU needs five doctors including one anaesthetist but no posting has been reported so far. According to the people, there are no doctors in the ICU for the last six months. 

Stating that the infrastructure work and bed provision would only remain on paper, the people told TNIE, "As many as 12 doctor posts are lying vacant and there are no neurology, pulmonary, anaesthesia specialists at the DHH too. Due to the absence of neurologists, patients are forced to travel to SCB MCH, Cuttack, either for treatment or any medical certificates. No surgery is being conducted at the DHH due to absence of anaesthetists." 

Chief district medical officer (CDMO) Khetramohan Dash said, "I have written a letter to the principal secretary, Health and Family Welfare department apprising him of the issues and I hope to receive a positive response soon." 

Some doctors in the hospital reportedly refer patients to other hospitals without treatment. An FIR was also filed against a doctor a month back after the latter was accused of turning away patients without providing any treatment.