The guardians and relatives of the patients, members of civil societies, political parties and above all, the people at large vehemently protested the midnight shifting of the paediatrics ward of the VSS Medical College Hospital at Burla to a newly but half-completed building inside the campus.
Previously, this ward was functioning outside the campus in a separate building. But shifting of the ward to a half- completed building has been strongly protested and agitations are going on in the hospital campus, informed Nihal Singh, a social worker of Burla.
Meanwhile, protesting the shifting of the decision, NGO Bharasa is sitting in a dharana in front of the college. Similarly, the activists of Congress had hot exchange of words with the in- charge medical superintendent Dr Barsha Tudu over the issue. The Congress activists also gheraoed Tudu and locked up the administrative building.
“We have no objection if the Paediatrics ward is shifted to the new building. But the building should be a completed and well-furnished one but not like one in the present pitiable condition where the basic facilities are neither available for the patients nor their attendants,” said Singh.
Due the hasty action in shifting the ward without caring to public opinion and suggestions, two children died on the very first day, Singh alleged further.
Singh and many others further questioned that when there were 105 beds in the old ward, why there are only 55 beds in the new one. When contacted, VSS Medical College Hospital superintendent Dr lK Dash said that the shifting had been done as per the Medical Council of India (MCI) guidelines.
“The patients will get more facilities and care in the new building inside the campus,” Dr Dash said, adding, “I fail to understand why people are protesting a good action.”
However, he assured that things will be alright and all shortfalls would be met in the new building very soon.