The sad picture of government healthcare has once again come to light. Electricity service has been disrupted for 24 hours in Khadial Sub-Divisional Hospital of Nuapada district. Due to intense heat and humidity, patients and their relatives are facing unprecedented problems. Since there was no electricity from 11 pm last Friday night till the time of writing, darkness reigns everywhere in the hospital, from the general ward to the emergency department. Patients are suffering without electricity. Since last Friday night, the electricity supply in the sub-divisional hospital has been cut off, and patients in the hospital have spent the night holding hands. Especially children and critically ill patients are suffering in the heat. Due to lack of electricity, various essential services like blood tests, ECG have also been completely disrupted. Some patients have been forced to shift to private clinics.
In whose interest has the DG set been installed here, it raises questions? An automatic DG set (generator) has been arranged in the hospital premises at a cost of lakhs of rupees. Its purpose is to provide uninterrupted service to patients in case of emergency. But even after 24 hours of power outage, this DG set has not been operated. The authorities are trying to shift the blame from themselves by making excuses of “no oil” or “mechanical fault”. In such a situation, the question arises, if it does not come into use during a crisis, then in whose interest has this DG set been installed, which raises questions in general? Is there any financial irregularity behind this? There has been intense public discontent in the local area regarding this extreme negligence of the sub-district hospital. Relatives of the patients and the general public have staged protests in the hospital premises.
Local intellectuals have warned that if the power supply is not restored immediately and action is not taken against the employees responsible for the non-operation of the DG set, the agitation will spread in the coming days. When asked about this, the Nuapada CDMO said that efforts are being made to resolve the issue soon. When asked why the DG set is not being used during the power cut, he said that an investigation will be conducted and necessary action will be taken.
