The trauma care centre at MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur. Picture by Gopal Krishna Reddy

Berhampur, Feb. 10: The trauma care centre at MKCG Medical College and Hospital here funded by the central government would be functional shortly.

The foundation stone for the centre was laid on December 23, 2006, and construction of the building was over on March 2, 2009.

Two members of the central committee, consisting of additional director of the health ministry Sitaram Agrawal and senior regional director Surendra Nath Pati, who visited the centre four days ago, said it should immediately start functioning.

A high-level meeting to discuss the issue and find a way out would be held tomorrow in Bhubaneswar, said hospital superintendent Ashok Kumar Behera.

The centre has been a non-starter due to absence of nine specialists in surgery, orthopaedics and anaesthesia, 40 staff nurse, 15 nursing attendants and 17 beds, as prescribed by the central government.

The trauma care centre would be helpful for accident victims on the NH-5 and the NH-217. “As many as 800 road accidents are reported in Ganjam district every year. Many accident victims would survive if they can be provided proper trauma care on time,” said head of the surgery department Rasananda Mangual.

The Centre had sanctioned Rs 3.11 crore in two phases. Of the total amount, the state government has spent Rs 1.6 crore, said an official source.

Though an X-ray machine, a ventilator, an operation theatre table, lights and six beds had been purchased, the equipment have been diverted to other wards of the medical college and hospital. Six radiographers, data entry operator, pharmacist and attendant, who were appointed for the trauma care centre, have also been re-deployed in other departments, sources said.