MKCG Medical College in Berhampur dilapidated, authorities in slumber

By Sisir Panigrahy

Wide cracks in walls of various departments, insufficient infrastructure and lack of equipment plague MKCG Medical College and Hospital (MKCG MCH) here. While tobacco spit marks on the walls and unbearable stink from the blocked toilets portray a poor picture of the premier medical college, the patients admitted here also have to fight the mosquito menace.

Set up in 1961, the 1,081- bed MKCG MCH is the referral hospital for 10 southern districts and caters to patients from Andhra Pradesh as well. While lack of infrastructure is commonplace in this  hospital, the least expected of the authorities is to maintain cleanliness and hygiene on the hospital premises to prevent infection. However, what you get to see at the MCH is a testimony to the fact that the authorities concerned are in deep slumber.

Walls in various departments of the 51-year-old structure have developed deep cracks sans maintenance, portions of the roofs chip off every month and need to be repaired on priority. At any given point of time, as many as 800 patients and 4,000 people, including patients’ attendants and hospital staff, can be found in the wards.

Locals alleged that although the hospital higher-ups are well aware of the unsafe condition of MCH’s buildings, they spent money on just plastering the cracks and fixing of floor tiles.

Amenities to patients too are non-existent. While the hospital is supposed to provide most of the medicines to the in- patients, except the normal saline no medicines are provided to them. Patients are allegedly asked to purchase all the required medicines, including cotton. Beds in most of the departments are damaged.

In Gynaecology department, due to shortage of beds pregnant  women and newborn are accommodated on the floor, notwithstanding the risk of infection.  While some departments do not have important equipment, some have them but are sparingly put to use.

One of them is Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) equipment which can be used to conduct various tests. The PCR equipment, worth ` 1 crore, was provided to the Microbiology department six months back. But on the pretext of non-supply of testing kits, the machine is lying unused.

In many operation theatres, air conditioners don’t work. Rasananda Mangual, HoD of Surgery department, said even as the department has facilities to operate four patients simultaneously, all the four air conditioners in the OT have become defunct.

“The department is supposed to conduct 3,000 general operations and another 1,500 emergency  operations a year. Though the target of emergency operations is achieved, the number of general operations falls much short of the target. Doctors in other departments said although the officials concerned have been informed about the unsafe buildings in the MKCG, no proper action is being initiated.  

Source: New Indian Express