The defunct lift at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack. Telegraph picture

Cuttack, Oct. 31: Seventeen-year-old Asit Prasanna Mohanty today got exhausted making at least three rounds to the third floor of the old medicine ward at SCB Medical College and Hospital here. He had to use the stairs to reach the ward to consult his doctor, as the building’s elevator was not functioning.

Asit, who hails from Bhatimunda in this district, had a stomach infection. He had come to consult the doctor at SCB’s old medicine ward. “It was very strenuous going up the stairs as I have been suffering from abdominal pain. I somehow reached the second floor with the help of my father. But I faced a lot of difficulty walking up and down the stairs again and again as I had to go out for an ultrasound,” said Asit.

Though the state government is putting a lot of effort to improve the patient care system, there has been no improvement in the plight of patients visiting SCB. Two elevators at the hospital’s old medicine ward have remained defunct following technical glitches for a few months now, creating problems for patients, their attendants, doctors and other medical staff. The 280-bed medicine ward is one of the major departments of the hospital. There is always a huge rush of patients in this ward.

Because of the defunct elevators, patients now have to be lifted on stretchers up and down the building’s narrow stairways.Bijay Das, an attendant, said this was the second time this year that he faced problems because of the defunct elevators at SCB. In August, his family members had faced similar problems at the gynaecology department.

Hospital sources said the general electricity department was responsible for maintenance of the elevators. As the elevators at most of the wards have become old, they stop functioning regularly even after repairs. An official, however, said steps were being taken to repair the elevators that were out of order.

“We have already informed senior officials of the general electric department’s division II about the problem. They have assured us that they would repair the elevators. The problem is expected to be solved in a couple of days,” said SCB senior hospital administrator Col (retired) Dr Srikanta Mohapatra.