Orissa High Court Panel Flags Critical Gaps in SCB Medical College Burn and Newborn Units

The Advocates’ Committee, constituted by the Orissa High Court to inspect the quality of healthcare services at SCB Medical College and Hospital — the State’s largest government-run healthcare facility in Cuttack — has found that patients admitted to the burn and newborn care units are exposed to a high risk of infection due to severe space constraints in the burn unit.

Head of Department Dr. Biswajit Mishra stated that there is a significant possibility of infections among burn patients, emphasizing that each patient should ideally be kept in an isolated cabin. The committee, quoting Dr. Mishra’s version, informed the Court in its fact-finding report that there is also an acute shortfall of essential manpower, such as nursing officers and dressers.

“The unit is functioning in a very limited space and has nine Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds. It is worth mentioning that out of the nine beds, one has been arranged in a cabin structure, another five are in a separate room, and the remaining beds are placed in the open space. For nine beds, only one dresser is working, and there is an urgent need to appoint four more dressers,” the report pointed out.

The report further noted that at night, only one nursing officer manages the entire unit. Despite requests for necessary equipment and machinery, none have been provided to the department so far.

The Advocates’ Committee also recommended that burn patients need to have their dressings changed at least four times a day, depending on their condition and the percentage of burns. Given the limited space between the five closely placed beds, the committee suggested separating them using plywood partitions and glass fittings. It also recommended the immediate appointment of at least three additional dressers on an urgent basis.

The committee’s report additionally highlighted similar issues of space shortage, inadequate manpower, and scarcity of equipment in the Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) of the premier government medical college and hospital.

“Due to a shortage of space and a lack of sufficient manpower and machinery, two newborn babies were being kept in a single tray for investigation and observation,” the report stated.

It further observed that there is no dedicated ICU facility available for newborns immediately after birth or surgery. Instead, newborn babies were found accommodated in two adjacent rooms designated as SNCU-II, Neonatal Care Unit-I, and the High-Risk Ward, while some of the medical equipment was stored outside the available space in a glass enclosure.

The report added that despite multiple requests from the Department of Gynecology to the concerned authorities, no action has been taken to provide adequate space, manpower, equipment, and, machinery.