Bhubaneswar: In a recent session of the Odisha Assembly, Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling disclosed that 12 out of the state’s 32 district headquarters hospitals (DHHs) lack Intensive Care Unit (ICU) facilities. This revelation underscores significant disparities in critical healthcare infrastructure across the region.
The absence of ICUs in these 12 DHHs highlights a pressing concern for residents requiring advanced medical care. While efforts are underway to address this gap, the existing distribution of ICUs remains uneven, potentially compromising patient outcomes in emergencies.
To bridge this critical gap, the state government has initiated the establishment of ICUs in four districts: Dhenkanal, Jharsuguda, Rayagada, and Rourkela. These facilities are in various stages of development, aiming to provide essential critical care services to the local populations.
Additionally, the ICU at the Koraput district headquarters hospital is slated to become operational by April. This development is part of a broader strategy to enhance healthcare services in underserved regions, ensuring that residents have access to necessary medical interventions.
The journey to equip DHHs with ICUs has been ongoing. In 2014, plans were announced to set up ICUs in several districts, including Nuapada, Baleswar, Jajpur, Mayurbhanj, Kalahandi, Bargarh, and Angul, with an estimated budget of ₹1 crore for each six-bedded unit. These units were intended to be staffed by trained medical professionals to provide round-the-clock critical care.
The Odisha government has expressed a strong commitment to improving healthcare infrastructure. Plans are underway to add approximately 13,000 hospital beds across various medical facilities in a phased manner. This expansion includes the establishment of new sub-divisional hospitals, community health centers, and primary health centers, aiming to elevate the standard of care and ensure that critical services like ICUs are accessible to a broader segment of the population.
