Rourkela, Jan. 2: The facilities at the only model ESI hospital in the state is at its lowest.

The health facility here is unable to provide several basic medical facilities, leave alone any specialised treatment. Consequently, the critically ill patients are immediately referred to Cuttack or Bhubaneswar or hospitals outside the state.

The model hospital has provisions for general medicine, surgery, orthopaedic, gynaecology, TB and chest, paediatrics, ENT, ophthalmology, anaesthesia, dermatology, pathology, dentistry, psychiatrics, pulmonary medicine along with physiotherapy, OPD, indoor and emergency.

Every day, over 450 to 500 patients report here and the hospital always runs almost to its capacity. Nearly 10 cases come here on a regular basis for super-specialty treatment, and they are referred to either Cuttack or Bhubaneswar, said hospital superintendent T.B. Batra.

The hospital came up here in May 2003. Initially, the facility's sanctioned strength was 10 beds. In 2008, it was increased to 50 beds. Thereafter, it was decided to increase it to a 100-bed medical facility, but later, a proposal for pegging it at 75 was sent. However, it is still pending with the government.

'I had almost lost my hands in an industrial accident. I was soon shifted to Cuttack where doctors did micro-surgery and saved me,' said an ESI beneficiary requesting anonymity.

Mary Murmu (name changed) had to undergo specialist gynaecology intervention to save herself and her child in Bhubaneswar. 'Today, I cannot bear another child. But thanks to the doctors in Bhubaneswar, who not only saved me, but also my child,' she said.

The hospital's sanctioned strength is 13 specialists, six senior residents, 26 general duty medical officers and one ayurvedic medical officer. However, it has six specialists and 12 general duty medical officers. In the paramedic category, there are 25 nurses against the required 27.

There is a shortfall in the technical staff category as well. There is no physiotherapist, only one ECG technical against two, one lab assistant against three, one junior radiographer against three, no dressers, three allopathic pharmacists against four and no one in the ayurvedic section.

There is also a requirement of one assistant director. 'Just look at the apathetic attitude towards this hospital which is supposed to cater to such a large number of beneficiaries,' said Jahangir Ali, vice-president of the CITU state unit and a member of All-India General Council.

The superintendent said: 'In January last year, I had written for filling up of the vacancies and also simultaneously sent the proposal for the 75-bed hospital, which can be started with present space with little adjustments here and there.'