Orissa High Court

Bhubaneswar, Oct. 22: An advocate committee set up by Orissa High Court today expressed dissatisfaction over the patient care and sanitation facilities at Capital Hospital, the premier government-run health facility in the city.

During their visit, the HC panel led by amicus curiae Pravat Ranjan Dash, expressed unhappiness over the facilities available at the hospital. The panel highlighted the lack of staff and equipment for emergency care.

Voicing concern over sanitation methods adopted at the hospital, the team said the internal and external sanitation were below standard. The team even found liquor bottles on the hospital premises. “It seems the hospital has become a place for boozers,” said Dash.

The high court had set up the advocate committee to visit different medical colleges as well as major hospitals in the state and district headquarters. The committee will submit a report before the high court along with photographs.

Dash said they had suggested several measures to the hospital authorities to improve the sanitation and the patient care facilities at the government-run hospital. “The hospital authorities should increase the strength of the personnel involved in maintaining sanitation. Besides, the hospital needs more medical staff. For better patient care facilities, the authorities must prepare a chart of the doctors and their duty hours,” he said, adding that stringent action should be taken against the employees and agencies for laxity.

The chief medical officer of the hospital, Nirmala Dei, said they were making all out efforts to provide patients with better medical and sanitation facilities. “We will try to improve the conditions as per the panel’s advice,” said Dei.