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22 deaths is daily average at the largest govt-run hospital in the state; 6-bed ICU, 1,000 extra beds among latest proposals
Cuttack, Sept 7: Amid the raging controversy over a spurt in deaths of infants at Sishu Bhawan, data from SCB Medical College and Hospital here reveals that this hospital, the state’s largest government-run multi-specialty healthcare facility, had a death rate of more than 22 patients every day between 2012-13 and 2013-14.
According to sources at the Medical Record Section of SCBMCH, 7,993 patients out of the total 9,98,400 who were treated at the hospital died in 2012-13. The highest number of deaths – 3,854 patients – took place in the medicine department, while the casualty department registered 1,040 deaths during the period. Paediatrics and obstetrics & gynaecology (O&G) departments recorded 743 and 340 deaths respectively.
Similarly, 8,450 out of the total 12,20,208 outdoor and indoor patients admitted to the hospital in 2013-14 died. The medicine department registered the highest number of deaths (4,686) this year, too, said the sources. The paediatrics, O&G and casualty departments registered 169, 505 and 1,053 deaths respectively.
The hospital, having 2,270 beds, has super-specialty departments like cardiothoracic, neurology, endocrinology, plastic surgery, nephrology and gastroenterology. “Critical operations like bone marrow transplant on 20 blood cancer patients were performed during the last 14 months. Such critical operations will be conducted on six more patients soon,” said haematology department head Prof RK Jena.
When asked about the reason behind the deaths at the casualty ward, SCBMCH administrative officer Pratap Mishra said, “There are plans to introduce structural changes, among others, in the casualty ward, and we hope that it would improve the situation.”
Meanwhile, a proposal to set up a six-bed intensive care unit at hepatology department has been sent to the Medical Council of India for its approval. SCB superintendent Pratap Rath said the beds in the hospital would be increased by 1,000 in the next one year as many patients have to lie on the floor due to insufficient beds.
Cardiothoracic department prof. Manoj Patnaik, said, “The number of people visiting the hospital is rising as they feel they will benefit from the modern healthcare facilities here.” SCB emergency official Bhubanananda Maharana said, “SCB being a referral hospital, many patients with complicated health issues come here not only from across the state but from outside to get cured.”