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Time of India
5 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
HC takes stock of Mahaprayan scheme at SCB
Cuttack: Orissa high court took stock of the ailing Mahaprayan scheme at SCB Medical College and Hospital (SCBMCH), Cuttack, following media reports that both designated vehicles for transporting bodies had become non-functional forcing grieving families to depend on costly private options. Launched by the Odisha govt to provide free and dignified transportation of the dead from govt hospitals, the Mahaprayan scheme was aimed at helping economically weaker sections. However, the scheme's execution at SCBMCH has drawn criticism for its poor upkeep and delayed response. A division bench of Justice S K Sahoo and Justice V Narasingh reviewed the matter on July 25, following reports that the two Mahaprayan vehicles operated by the Red Cross were allegedly lying defunct — one damaged in an accident and the other abandoned. The report highlighted that, in the absence of these vehicles, families were forced to transport bodies on trolley rickshaws or hire private ambulances at high rates. Prof. Dr. Goutam Satapathy, superintendent of SCBMCH, appeared in the virtual mode in the court and submitted a status report. According to the report, one vehicle was damaged in an accident on Nov 29, 2024. The repair estimate was received on Dec 30, 2024, and subsequently certified by the Motor Vehicle Inspector (MVI). by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The hospital requested funds from the emergency officer, Cuttack, on Jan 17, 2025, and the general administration & public grievance (GA & PG) department sanctioned the amount from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund (CMRF). The vehicle is currently under repair and expected to be operational soon. The second vehicle remained in service until July 16, 2025, before requiring replacement of four tyres and the battery after logging over 1.1 lakh km. On July 11, 2025, the emergency officer was requested to replace the necessary parts in consultation with the regional transport office (RTO), Cuttack. The replacements have since been made, and the vehicle is now back in operation. Taking the developments on record, the bench closed the hearing but not before underlining the need for regular maintenance and timely intervention to ensure uninterrupted services under the Mahaprayan scheme.
Time of India
a day ago
- Health
- Time of India
HC lens on lack of essential medicines at SCB's Niramaya centres
Cuttack: Orissa high court has taken suo motu cognisance of a news report highlighting the alleged unavailability of essential medicines under the Niramaya scheme at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack and directed that doctors must prescribe generic medicines on official prescription pads. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The division bench comprising Justices S K Sahoo and V Narasingh in its order on Friday observed that poor patients are being forced to purchase costly medicines from private shops due to systemic lapses after the report published in a local daily pointed out that most essential drugs are not available at the Niramaya centre in SCB. "Patients are being made to wait for hours and are ultimately forced to buy medicines from outside. In many cases, they simply cannot afford to do so," the bench noted in its order. The Niramaya scheme is the state's free drug distribution programme aimed at ensuring availability of essential medicines in govt hospitals. The court also expressed concern over the practice of doctors prescribing medicines on plain paper, instead of the hospital's official pads. "This makes it harder for patients to claim medicines under the scheme," the bench said. Appearing before the bench in virtual mode, SCB superintendent Dr Goutam Satapathy submitted a detailed status report. He stated that since the scheme's launch on May 1, 2015, 329 types of medicines are being distributed free of cost at six Niramaya counters in SCB, with two more counters — one each at surgery and orthopaedics OPD — in the pipeline. Satapathy said that while the Odisha State Medical Corporation Ltd (OSMC) is the main supplier, some medicines may go out of stock due to high demand. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "Such shortages are temporary and replenishments are made at the earliest," he said, adding that medicines not available with OSMC are sourced through empanelled shops under the local and bulk purchase schemes for indoor patients. He further informed the court that the ongoing SCB redevelopment project includes plans for a fully automated drug distribution system using computerised barcoded pneumatic mechanisms. To improve transparency and reduce patient inconvenience, Satapathy assured the court that digital display boards will be installed at each Niramaya centre to show the real-time availability of medicines alphabetically. "Unavailable medicines will also be marked clearly so that patients do not wait in vain," he added. However, the bench directed further hearing on the matter on Sept 4.
Time of India
21-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
HC lens on suspension of liver transplant surgeries at SCB
Cuttack: Orissa high court has taken suo motu cognisance of a newspaper report highlighting the suspension of liver transplant surgeries at SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack, following the expiry of a crucial agreement between the state govt and a Hyderabad-based private institute. A division bench comprising Justice S K Sahoo and Justice V Narasingh, in an order issued on July 18, noted the report published in a vernacular daily and directed SCB authorities to explain the current status of the liver transplant unit. Superintendent of SCB, Dr Goutam Satapathy, who appeared via a video link during the hearing, informed the court that no patient requiring a liver transplant had been denied treatment due to the expiry of the MoU with the private institute, which ended on April 1 this year. He added that talks are underway to finalise a new MoU with another private healthcare establishment in Chennai. Taking note of the urgency, the court has posted the matter for further hearing on July 31. The state govt had signed the MoU with the Hyderabad-based private institute in 2022 to operationalise an adult liver transplant unit at SCB. The facility was officially launched in 2023, with the govt sanctioning Rs 22 crore for infrastructure and logistics. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Sticky Sweet Treat Is Healthier Than You Think – 15 Reasons to Add It to Your Diet! Learn More Undo Two liver transplants have been conducted under the programme so far — the first on April 3, 2024, and the second on Sept 9, 2024. The liver transplant initiative was designed to provide the high-cost procedure free of charge to eligible patients. In private hospitals outside the state, the surgery reportedly costs up to Rs 40 lakh. However, with no transplants conducted since Sept last year, uncertainty now looms over the programme due to the lapse of the partnership and the lack of fully trained in-house transplant specialists at SCB.
New Indian Express
18-07-2025
- New Indian Express
Man cries police inaction in minor daughter's abduction, consumes poison in Odisha's Kendrapara
KENDRAPARA: A 45-year-old man consumed poison on Wednesday evening alleging police inaction in the case of his minor daughter's kidnapping which took place more than a month back. The victim, Kalpataru Ojha of Tantiapala area, is battling for life in SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack while his 16-year-old daughter has still not been traced. Ojha's wife alleged that a 24-year-old youth of Chakada Gogua village within Tantiapala Marine police limits kidnapped her daughter on May 27. Though her husband approached police several times requesting to trace their daughter, the cops reportedly did not take any action in the case. 'Unable to bear the shock of our daughter's kidnapping coupled with the slipshod attitude of the police, my husband consumed poison,' she claimed. Ojha was first admitted to the community health centre at Rajnagar. He was later shifted to SCB MCH after his condition deteriorated, she added. IIC of Tantiapala Marine police station Kishor Chandra Tarai said Ojha had lodged an FIR on May 28 alleging that his minor daughter was kidnapped by one Rajendra Jena. The girl is a Class X student of the local school. Acting on the complaint, police filed a case under relevant sections of BNS and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. 'We have formed a team to arrest the accused and rescue the minor girl. We are also interrogating the accused youth's family members and friends to know about his hideouts. A police team also visited Hyderabad and other places in connection with the case. On Thursday, we came to know that the girl's father consumed poison. An investigation has been launched into the incident,' Tarai added.
Time of India
12-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Bone marrow transplant to resume at SCB under mentor, govt tells HC
Cuttack: The state govt informed the Orissa high court on Friday that bone marrow transplant (BMT) services at SCB Medical College and Hospital (SCBMCH), Cuttack — the state's only facility offering free BMT — will resume shortly under the guidance of an honorary mentor. A division bench of Justices S K Sahoo and V Narasingh, hearing a petition seeking urgent steps to ensure proper functioning of SCBMCH's haematology department noted that the transplant service had been halted following the retirement of the department's professor. The petition cited a media report. Health secretary Aswathy S, appearing in the virtual mode, informed the court that while an associate professor and two assistant professors are currently posted and technically qualified, they had only assisted the now-retired professor and lacked confidence to independently carry out transplants. To bridge this gap, Dr. Prabodh Kumar Das, a retired haematology specialist from AIIMS, has agreed to act as an honorary mentor. He is expected to oversee transplant procedures at SCBMCH and provide hands-on supervision to the existing faculty. Instructions for co-ordinating with Dr. Das have already been issued to the superintendent of SCBMCH, the health secretary told the bench. The court was further informed that the govt is drafting standard operating procedures (SOPs) to make mentoring by professors mandatory, ensuring continuity of specialised services after retirements or transfers. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Đây có thể là thời điểm tốt nhất để giao dịch vàng trong 5 năm qua IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo A committee has been constituted to finalise these guidelines. Aswathy also said the health department has proposed institutional tie-ups with top transplant centres across the country to support transplant operations and faculty training in Odisha. The proposal is currently awaiting govt approval. The bench directed the SCBMCH superintendent and the health secretary to file affidavits detailing the steps being taken for the smooth functioning of the haematology department. The matter has been listed for next hearing on Aug 7. The special BMT unit was established in SCBMCH in Feb 2014. The entire procedure from investigations, treatment to recovery is free and all costs are borne by the govt. Generally, the procedure costs Rs 15 lakh to Rs 30 lakh. Starting in April 2014 with autologous transplants, the unit has so far successfully conducted 180 transplants with a high survival rate. The last transplant was performed at the unit in Feb 2025.
