The State Government has decided to instal a lifesaving Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) machine at the Capital Hospital here.The tendering process has already started and CSR funds would be utilised for the purpose, said Health Minister Naba Das on Wednesday.
Earlier, the Government had announced to set up six ECMO units at the SCB Medical College Hospital, Cuttack. The machines would be installed in the Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgery Ward of the hospital.
There is no ECMO machine in any Government hospital in the State as yet, due to which three serious patients have already been airlifted to other States in just a week’s time.
One Amrit Pradhan from Ganjam was airlifted to Chennai. Vigilance Director Debasis Panigrahi was airlifted to Kolkata on Tuesday and Abhishek Mohapatra from Bhadrak to Kolkata on Wednesday. Odisha has only two ECMO machines and these are in private hospitals, SUM and KIMS.