Cuttack, Sept. 2: Cuttack Municipal Corporation’s dispensary at Bidanasi is reeling from neglect because of lack of facilities and staff.

The dispensary is the only medical institution of the civic body that has a maternity centre. However, the centre has been running without a woman gynaecologist for a long time. As a result, a staff nurse is now conducting normal deliveries while complicated cases are being referred to SCB Medical College and Hospital and City Hospital.

“There is no woman doctor at the four-bed maternity centre, which is causing problems for the patients as only normal deliveries are being conducted here by one staff nurse,” said Sudha Sahu, a homemaker.

The Bidanasi dispensary was established in 1984 and the maternity ward was started there in 1996. Apart from doctors, three nurses are required to take care of pregnant women there. Though around 60 deliveries are conducted here annually, not a single delivery could be conducted in August because of a seepage from the roof of the labour room and general ward.

“No delivery was possible at the centre last month because of a leakage from the roof. Also, there is acute waterlogging outside the maternity ward during the rainy season,” said pharmacist Sujit Ranjan Das.

Das said the light inside the labour room was also lying dysfunctional, while there was a requirement of a gynaecologist and equipment to conduct caesarean deliveries.

Local residents alleged that the civic authorities had not paid any attention to the maintenance of the Bidanasi dispensary. They also alleged that no measures were taken for renovation of the dispensary after it got damaged in the 1999 super-cyclone.

“Around 50 to 60 patients from Bidanasi and other nearby areas come to the municipal dispensary, which is functioning from a dilapidated building. There is no provision for drinking water and round-the-clock electricity. Vegetation has grown in abundance around the dispensary,” said Rajendra Patnaik, a local resident. Though a doctor has been appointed for treating patients at the dispensary, it is alleged that most of the time it is the pharmacist who prescribes medicines to patients.

Civic officials, however, said as the doctor concerned had also been assigned with additional charges of two other municipal dispensaries in the city, there might be complaints of irregularities of timing.

“The government has not recruited a woman gynaecologist there despite several requests. However, we have decided at a municipal council meeting to recruit retired doctors on extension for the dispensary,” said city health officer P.K. Pradhan.