SCB authorities have allegedly failed to deploy adequate technical and Grade-IV health staff for providing treatment to dengue patients
Cuttack: Authorities of Sriram Chandra Bhanja Medical College and Hospital (SCBMCH) are yet to make special arrangements and deploy adequate staff to treat people suffering from dengue even though the vector-borne disease has claimed two lives in the state this season.
The state government has declared SCBMCH as a nodal centre for treatment of dengue patients, but the premier healthcare facility is ill-equipped to provide healthcare to even a dozen critically-ill persons, sources said.
SCBMCH authorities, however, claimed that they have arranged 150 beds and eight intensive care units (ICUs) for the treatment of dengue patients.
“We won’t charge anything for treatment of dengue either at the general ward or at the ICUs,” said assistant nodal officer for dengue care at SCBMCH Sriprasad Mohanty.
Sources, however, claimed that the hospital authorities have failed to deploy adequate technical and Grade-IV health staff for providing treatment to dengue patients.
“Manpower crunch will certainly affect the hospital’s preparedness to handle large number of dengue patients. They are claiming that eight ICUs have been arranged for treatment of dengue patients, but what will they do if 10 critically-ill patients are admitted to the hospital at a given time,” said a social activist.
Nodal officer for dengue care at the institute CBK Mohanty said the number of dengue cases in the state is much lower than the national average. “The death rate in dengue cases around the world is not so alarming. People shouldn’t be panicky over the disease. Though there is no definite treatment for dengue, people can be cured of the disease if they consult a doctor at an early stage,” Mohanty added.