A delegation of the Manav Adhikar Surakshya Manch (MASM) led by its convenor lawyer and social worker Abani Gaya submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister through the Superintendent of MKCG Medical College and Hospital Prof (Dr) Santosh Kumar Mishra here on Monday, protesting the poor state of healthcare in the MCH.
 
The 15-point charter of demands include preventing the rise in number of death cases of patients under treatment, filling up of all the vacant positions of doctors and para-medical staff, establishing of a “Burn Care Unit”, opening of the 2nd gate of the MCH facing the new Bus Stand for the convenience of the patients, functioning of CT scan and Endoscopy machines, action against senior doctors who remain absent in duty hours, separate indoor provision for the patients of neurology and kidney patients, introducing 24x7 dialysis service, opening of special ICU for the patients of  Neurology Department and increasing the number life support ambulances.
 
The Government is deliberately neglecting the healthcare needs of the people of Ganjam in general and Brahmapur in particular. In place of senior doctors, fresh PG students are appointed on contractual/adhoc basis giving rise to compromising with quality of services. Besides, many vacant posts of doctors and other manpower in the MCH are not filled in, Gaya said.
 
While the Government claims that all the tests are available free of cost under the Nidan Scheme, two crucial test equipment— the CT scan and  Endoscopy machines— are lying defunct in the MCH for last several months, thereby forcing the poor patients to go to private nursing homes to conduct the prescribed tests incurring huge expenses.
 
Gaya urged the CM to extend the BSKY card to all super senior citizens of the State above 70 years irrespective of their income and increase the limit of providing free healthcare up to Rs 10 lakh.