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New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Health
- New Indian Express
Uncertainty looms over liver transplant services at SCB MCH, Orissa HC takes note
Cuttack: The Orissa High Court has taken serious note of the uncertainty over the future of liver transplantation services at the state-run SCB MCH in Cuttack due to the lapse of a crucial partnership agreement. On July 18, the division bench comprising Justice SK Sahoo and Justice V Narasingh sought clarity on the issue from the hospital authorities. During the hearing, SCB MCH superintendent Prof Goutam Satapathy informed the court that no eligible patient had been denied transplantation solely due to the expiration of the MoU with AIG, Hyderabad, from April 1, 2025. He assured the bench that efforts were underway to finalise a new MoU with MGM Healthcare, Chennai, to ensure continuity of the life-saving service. The court has scheduled the next hearing for July 31, stressing the urgency of the matter. The liver transplant unit at SCB MCH was established in 2022, backed by a sanctioned fund of Rs 22 crore. The goal was to provide liver transplants free of cost to the people of Odisha. Under the original MoU, a team from AIG Hyderabad provided technical and procedural support to SCB MCH to conduct two liver transplants - the first on April 3, 2024, and the second on September 9, 2024. The collaboration was designed to continue until the hospital developed its own fully-trained transplant team. However, the current vacuum in specialised trained staff has raised concerns about the sustainability of the programme.
Time of India
3 days ago
- 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
14-07-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Odisha HC raps govt over Cuttack drain project, questions pvt firm's role
CUTTACK: In a scathing order, the Orissa High Court has pulled up the Housing and Urban Development (H&UD) department over serious lapses in the preparation and handling of detailed project reports (DPRs) for construction of five major storm water drains in Cuttack under the branch surface water channel (BSWC) project, worth over `335 crore. The division bench of Justices SK Sahoo and V Narasingh expressed concern over 'startling' discrepancies in the DPRs submitted by the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC). The court observed that the DPRs lacked official authentication and no names of the officials involved in their preparation were mentioned, which is a significant deviation from standard procedure. The court said more disturbingly, during a review meeting on April 30, 2025, the city engineer of CMC was represented by a private consultancy firm based in Bhubaneswar, raising questions over its authority and role. 'There is nothing on record to indicate how the private company could represent a government official,' the bench remarked.
Time of India
13-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
HC questions irregularities in preparing DPRs of Cuttack drain project
1 2 Cuttack: Orissa high court has taken serious note of irregularities in the preparation of detailed project reports (DPRs) related to the Rs 335.42 crore branch surface water channel (BSWC) drain project in Cuttack. A division bench of Justices S K Sahoo and V Narasingh, while hearing the matter on July 11, came down heavily on the housing and urban development department and noted with concern that the DPRs submitted by Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) were neither authenticated nor bore the names of officials involved in their preparation. The court termed the lapses as "startling". The bench also questioned how a Bhubaneswar-based private consultancy firm came to represent the city engineer (CMC) during a crucial meeting held on April 30. "There is nothing on record to indicate how the private company could represent a govt official," the court observed. "The lackadaisical manner in which the entire project is being handled is tell-tale," the bench remarked and directed the secretary of the department to file an affidavit by July 21, clarifying the appointment of the firm, reasons for overlooking IIT Bhubaneswar, and whether any departmental or vigilance inquiry is being initiated into the handling of the project. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The engineer has also been directed to submit a separate affidavit detailing the basis for involving the firm and referring the DPRs to Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology (VSSUT), Burla. The matter pertains to the proposed construction of five BSWC drains in the city. Despite a decision taken in Dec 2023 to consult IIT Bhubaneswar for an expert review of the DPRs, the documents were sent instead to VSSUT. The shift was based on a communication dated June 17 this year from the firm. "It does not stand to reason how the govt's direction to consult IIT Bhubaneswar, keeping in mind the hydraulic analysis required, was ignored," the bench stated. When questioned by the court, the engineer assured the revised DPRs would be submitted by July 25. However, the judges noted the absence of any explanation as to why the firm was involved and why the IIT's expertise was bypassed.
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.
