Patients resent delay in infra development at state-run cancer hospital in Cuttack

Cuttack, Dec 17: Patients visiting the Acharya Harihar Regional Cancer Centre here have voiced resentment over the delay in development of infrastructure at the facility.

AHRCC is the only hope for thousands of poor cancer patients not only from Odisha, but also from neighboring Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal.

Lack of infrastructure has severely hit delivery of patient care at the hospital as it is inadequate to meet patient inflow.

Patients are often seen lying on the floors of the wards, verandahs and even outside due to lack of adequate number of beds. An average 500 patients visit the 281-bed government-run facility hospital daily.

In view of the steadily rising patients’ inflow, the state government in 2016 had initiated some steps for establishment of its second campus initially with 100 beds.

                The district administration had identified 60-acres near Munduli for the proposed medical hub, including the second campus of SCBMCH and AHRCC following which steps were taken for preparation of the detailed project report (DPR).

                Nearly six months ago, the State government changed its decision and entered into a pact with Tata Trust for development of cancer care facilities in the State.

                As per the pact, Tata Trust would set up a comprehensive cancer care hospital of its own and develop the infrastructure at AHRCC.

                It was also decided to commence AHRCC infrastructure developmental work within three months after inspecting the existing infrastructure and submitting a detail report on it to government.

Though a piece of 15 acre at Ratagada under Barang Tahasil has already been handed over to Tata Trust for setting up comprehensive cancer care hospital, delay in developing AHRCC infrastructure has created wide spread resentment even though the representatives of Tata Trust had already inspected the existing infrastructure and made discussion with authorities of AHRCC.

According to AHRCC Administrative Officer Rudra Narayan Dash, “The AHRCC is now functioning from six acres of land. We have got additional 2.5 acres of land located adjacent to AHRCC from Industry and GA Departments for expansion of the hospital,”

The process for shifting of 11 quarters on said land is at the final stage, he added.