The Milita Nagarika Committee, a citizens’ forum of Kandhamal district, has urged the State Government to set up a Government medical college and hospital here at the earliest.
Committee functionaries placed this demand at a Press meet held here on Wednesday.
“Kandhamal district is located at the centre of Odisha. People of the district cover 200 to 250 km to get better healthcare,” said functionaries like Arup Jena, Ashok Parida, Nabin Kishore and Prasant Behera.
Even as there are 36 PHCs, 14 CHCs and one DHH in the district, each of these health units doesn’t have adequate numbers of doctors. Out of total 215 doctors, many posts are lying vacant for the last 10 years. Thus, even for a minor treatment, patients are referred to Brahmapur and Cuttack. During 2018-19, as many as 2,693 out of 65,044 patients were referred to outside the district. The members further said that patients are spending
Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000 for ultrasound. As many as 476 and 465 people died of malaria during 2017-18 and 28-19, respectively.
Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) and Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) are alarming in Kandhamal. Out of an average of 15,000 births, 600 die every year. As many as 700 abortions occur due to lack of medical facilities, they said.
“In view of all these, a Government medical college and hospital should be established. Not only 8.5 lakh people of the district will benefit, but also many residents of neighbouring Ganjam, Boudh, Subarnapur and Kalahandi districts wit get healthcare at ease,” they argued.
They said Kandhamal should get a medical college as it comes under the Schedule V of the Constitution.
They also informed that a bike rally would be organised on Friday to put pressure on the administration for establishment of a medical college. If the demand remains unheard, the committee will resort to a Knandmal Bandh in coming days.
“We will soon meet MP Achyuta Samant and all MLAs of the district and apprise them about our demand. Thereafter, we will meet Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and urge him to meet out demand,” they said.