Gastro wing at MKCG Medical College and Hospital defunct, patients suffer

According to reports, patients who are suffering from liver and digestive disorders and are seeking treatment in the facility have been recommended to undergo diagnostic procedures at private facilities that charge more than 3,000 for a full colonoscopy and more than Rs 1,000 for a distal colonoscopy. 

Abani Kumar Gaya, a senior attorney and the convenor of the Manav Adhikar Manch in Berhampur, claimed that despite availability of sufficient equipment, patients are still required to pay out of pocket. "More than two years have passed since the department was opened, but the authorities are yet to provide adequate facilities including beds for indoor patients. Only OPD service is available, that too not regular, due to lack of adequate doctors and infrastructure,” he pointed out. 

The first assistant professor was appointed in the medical gastroenterology wing in June 2022, despite Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's declaration that the department would become operational in 2021. Only one assistant professor is single-handedly managing the facility while the professor and department head, who was appointed on January 12 this year and joined in March, went on leave. Vacancies for associate professor, senior, and junior resident positions are yet to be fulfilled.

According to sources, the hospital administration is making arrangements for the gastrointestinal department at the PMR building, which is currently home to the medicine department. The gastrointestinal department will be relocated to the second level of the building when the medicine ward has moves to the former paediatric building by August.  

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