Sonepur: With the rising cases of COVID-19 in Subarnapur, the district headquarters hospital (DHH) here functions sans intensive care unit (ICU) and ventilator. Furthermore, 22 positions of doctor remain vacant against the 58 available posts, a source said.
With no proper facilities, COVID-19 patients from across the district, who come to the DHH in critical condition, are allegedly referred to hospitals in Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, Burla and Bolangir. This on the other hand puts the lives of many critical patients in risk.
The foundation stone for a seven-storied new building of the DHH with 300 beds was laid three years ago. However, the project has faltered owing to lack of funds which has not have been provided by the state government yet.
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Though, high-level meetings have been conducted for several times, but to no avail. Repeated meetings have failed to draw the attention of the government towards the plight of the DHH. This has fumed local denizens.
On being contacted, chief district medical officer (CDMO) Dillip Kumar Panda said, “A 200-bed Covid care hospital has been functioning near Subarnapur ITI. Moreover, the 20-bed Covid hospital near maternity health centre (MCH) under construction beside River Mahanadi will be commissioned soon. Treatment of critical COVID-19 patients will not be hampered after ventilator and ICU become functional.”
PNN