Berhampur,MKCG medical college and hospital,the refferal hospital for southern region of odisha again on news for wrong reson.Since last one week,the MKCGMCH riddled with allegations of shifting of pateints of the MCH to private clinics by on duty doctors,harassment of Post graduate students by senior doctors,accomodation problem for newly joined students.Today,collapse of slab at a susper speciality block and leakage of gas at the Out-Patients Door(OPD),has exposed the blatant disregard of patient safety.Collapse of ceiling slabs in the SS block not new,rather continued since the inauguration of the block in 2021.Today ceiling slabs at the 4th floor of the five storied building collapsed once again.However,as the incident took place at the corridor and by the time no one was there.Though no one injured,but the loud sound of fall of slabs has sparked panic among the patients as well staffs and doctors on duty at the SS block.The five-storey super-speciality building was constructed by L&T at a cost of around Rs 150 crore under the Prime Minister Swasthya Suraksha Yojana,became operational and during the last four years the ceiling collapse is the 9th incident,as per official records.Incidently,following frequent collapse of ceiling slabs,in 2023 it was deicided for renovation of ceilings in the block at an cost of Rs 3,67,42,817/-.It was targeted to complete the task by february 2024,but till date hardly 70% work completed.On the otherhand,the condition of ceiling at 5th floor is in dilapedited condition.The nursing officers room at the floor is in precarious condition,the sipage of rain water at the ceiling frequnted,what forced the health staffs to perform their duties apprehending danger.MCH,superintedent prof Durga madhab satpathy said,we have apprised our concern to the concerned authorities and urged them to complete the task on war footing.The gas leak incident took place at OPD and the leakage was from the fire extinguisher.The equipment installed near the OPD crowded with a large number of patients and attendants.The incident, happened suddenly and triggered panic among patients and their attendants.Many of them were seen running helter skelter out of fear.The incident was reported to have taken place near the obstetrics and gynaecology department.It took some time for the hospital staff to ascertain the source of the gas that spread in the entire area.However,being informed, a team from the fire brigade reached the site and stopped the leakage.They also probing the reason of the leakage.
