Sambalpur: Ministerial Power in the Hands of Western Odisha Leaders, Yet Lagging Healthcare; Who’s to Blame for Vimsar’s Neglect?
Western Odisha’s Healthcare in Decline Despite Local Leadership
Sambalpur: Western Odisha is unique in having one of its own serve as Minister of Health and Family Welfare. Despite this advantage, the region’s healthcare system, particularly Vimsar, continues to suffer neglect. Despite the fact that leaders from this region have held the health portfolio for an extended period of time, the institute, which is often regarded as the lifeline of healthcare in Western Odisha, has seen little improvement. Small problems could have been resolved, and many tasks could have been completed, but even these remain unresolved.
BJD’s Long Tenure: 24 Years of Missed Opportunities
During the BJD’s 24 years in power, the health ministry has been dominated by Western Odisha representatives. Senior and influential leaders such as Duryodhan Majhi, Sanatan Bisi, Prasanna Acharya, Pradeep Amat, Naba Das, and Niranjan Pujari have held this position. After the BJP took power, Mukesh Mahalinga, an experienced leader, was appointed Health Minister. However, in terms of healthcare, the region continues to lag behind the rest of Odisha. In some hospitals, there are no doctors, or a single doctor must manage multiple hospitals in rotation. Rural hospitals continue to struggle, worsening the region’s healthcare problems.
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Vimsar’s Struggles: Self-Governance in Name Only
Following a long struggle by the local population, the BJD government granted autonomy to the historic Veer Surendra Sai Medical College and Hospital (VSS Medical College) under the name Vimsar. However, this autonomy is only on paper. Vimsar is still led by an acting director, and financial authority remains with the Dean. Without administrative staff, the director’s office is nothing more than a title. There is no independent system for conducting exams or recruiting doctors, and Sambalpur University continues to oversee these functions. This lack of autonomy has caused delays, such as the late release of question papers during exams.
Staff Shortages and Unused Facilities
Vimsar has not hired any new doctors since Professor Ashwini Pujahari stepped down as director in 2018. There are currently 11 professor, 15 associate professor, and 45 assistant professor positions open. Despite the construction of a 180-bed super-specialty ward, Vimsar has yet to operationalize several super-specialty departments, including Urology, Nephrology, Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Plastic Surgery. This has forced patients to wait in corridors due to a shortage of beds in various departments.
Long Wait for Critical Care Services
The situation worsens because the upper floors of the emergency department, though ready, remain unused. Patients requiring services such as MRI and CT scans face significant challenges due to malfunctioning or unavailable equipment. Even the hospital’s infrastructure is in disrepair, with old buildings shedding concrete chunks that have occasionally fallen on patients. Despite the fact that the Executive Committee has been in place for 11 months, there have been no significant improvements.
Conclusion: An Uncertain Future for Vimsar
Western Odisha, along with the bordering regions of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, looks to Vimsar for timely and effective healthcare. However, the institute’s current situation deprives many patients of adequate care. As the region continues to lag in healthcare, the question remains: who is to blame for Vimsar’s continued neglect?
