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Balasore: Fakir Mohan Medical College and Hospital (FMMCH), a key healthcare institute in northern Odisha which receives patients from Balasore, Bhadrak and parts of Mayurbhanj, is grappling with severe infrastructure gaps and a shortage of specialist doctors. The hospital, built at a cost of over Rs 300 crore, lacks basic amenities such as functional toilets, clean drinking water and essential diagnostic equipment, forcing many patients to seek treatment elsewhere.It was inaugurated in 2018 to ease the burden on the overcrowded district headquarters hospital (DHH) in Balasore. However, even after all units were shifted from DHH to the FMMCH campus in March 2023, the hospital is far from fully operational.The facility suffers from an acute shortage of diagnostic equipment. Most patients are referred back to DHH for critical tests such as CT scan, MRI and ultrasound. “There’s only one ultrasound machine shared between the FMMCH and DHH. First, they ask us to go to the FMMCH, then back to DHH. It’s exhausting,” Dinabandhu Parida, an OPD patient, said.Absence of specialist doctors in cardiology, neurology, oncology and urology has also forced patients in need of advanced care to travel to hospitals in Cuttack or Bhubaneswar. Patients and attendants have repeatedly complained about the deplorable condition of toilets in the pharmacy and patient wards. Many are either broken or lack water supply, while poor sanitation has worsened the situation. Some wards even experience water seepage during rain. Water continues to seep from the ceilings of the OPD and other areas during rain, causing significant inconvenience. There is no shaded waiting area outside the medicine distribution counter. Patients and attendants are compelled to stand in queues, exposed to the sun and rain.“In the dermatology ward, we have to go downstairs to fetch water every day. The toilets reek. This is not how a hospital should operate,” said Purnima Jena, daughter of a patient from Bhadrak.Despite investment, maintenance has been poor as the public works department (PWD) has not yet formally handed over the facility to the medical college authorities. Officials claimed responsibility lies with the PWD, but no action has been taken despite repeated complaints.FMMCH handles an average of 1,800 OPD patients and 250 IPD admissions daily. The DHH continues to treat over 3,000 OPD and 400 IPD patients daily, reflecting preference for the older facility.Access to FMMCH is another major concern. The approach road from the national highway remains incomplete, lacks proper signage and is plagued by encroachments. Absence of a boundary wall next to a large pond and a non-functional police outpost inside the campus add to safety worries.“We had high hopes when the hospital opened. But the reality is disappointing — no water, no proper information and poor coordination,” said Smritipriya Mishra, relative of a patient from Jaleswar.“This is a Rs 300-crore hospital, but it can’t provide working toilets or clean drinking water. It’s a disgrace,” Gouranga Panigrahi, a local activist, said.President of the govt medical college action committee, Niranjan Parida, has demanded urgent repairs by PWD, posting of specialist doctors in cardiology, neurology, oncology and urology and installation of diagnostic equipment. He also called for a 24×7 help desk, assured water supply, completion of the approach road, removal of encroachments and filling up of all vacant posts in ICUs, OPDs and IPDs to make departments fully functional.Jnanindra Nath Behera, dean and principal of FMMCH, stated that all 20 departments required for MBBS teaching are functional. “At present, we don’t have super-speciality departments. However, all OPD and IPD services have been shifted to the new FMMCH campus. Intensive care units and operation theatres are now functional. Diagnostic equipment like CT, MRI and ultrasound will be installed soon,” he added.“Regarding the PWD handover, the process is underway. We are actively following up with the authorities concerned to expedite the formal transfer, as it is crucial for initiating repairs, improving sanitation and enabling the medical college to take full administrative control,” Behera said.
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