Sambalpur: Ventilator Shortage for Newborns at Vimsar; Patients Forced to Go to Private Hospitals, Waiting for 12 Ventilators for Years
Lack of Ventilators in Neonatal ICU
Sambalpur: The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Vimsar is facing a severe shortage of ventilators and beds. Doctors repeatedly complain about this issue, as many premature and critically ill newborns do not get the necessary medical support due to the lack of beds and ventilators.
Recently, a woman from Sonepur gave birth to a premature baby at seven months. When she brought the newborn to Vimsar, the hospital could not admit the baby because all ventilator-equipped beds were occupied. As a result, she had no choice but to take the baby to a private hospital.
Overcrowding in NICU
The NICU at Vimsar has over 80 beds. However, due to the high number of critical newborns arriving daily, doctors are sometimes forced to place two babies on a single bed. Currently, the hospital has only four ventilators, which are not sufficient to meet the rising demand.
Several years ago, Vimsar requested 12 mini ventilators from the government to improve newborn care, but these have not been provided yet. Since ventilator beds are always occupied, many critically ill babies do not receive life-saving oxygen support.
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Government Inaction and Families’ Struggle
Despite repeated requests to the health department, authorities have not taken any concrete action to solve this issue. The lack of proper facilities forces poor families to either shift their babies to private hospitals or, in some cases, lose them forever due to lack of treatment.
Many district hospitals refer critical newborns to Vimsar, increasing the burden on the already overcrowded NICU. Due to insufficient space, many parents wait outside the hospital or even on the roads, as there are no proper waiting facilities for them.
Future Plans and Temporary Solutions
When questioned about the issue, Vimsar Superintendent Professor Lalmohan Nayak stated that MCL (Mahanadi Coalfields Limited) will initially provide six mini ventilators to improve the situation. Additionally, a new NICU with 100+ beds and 20 ventilator-equipped ICU beds is under construction to handle the growing patient load.
However, until these facilities are completed, newborns will continue to suffer, and families will struggle to find proper medical care for their babies. Parents are demanding immediate action from hospital authorities and the government to prevent further tragedies.
