Kendrapada: Several patients were compelled to sleep on the floor of the Rajkanika Community Health Centre (CHC) in Kendrapada district following tubectomy procedures due to a shortage of adequate beds. According to reports, at least 29 women were brought to the CHC by accredited social health activists (ASHA) for family planning procedures on Tuesday, only to find themselves without proper sleeping arrangements post-operation.
The women, after undergoing the tubectomy procedure, were provided with plastic sheets to sleep on the hospital floor, a situation that has sparked sharp criticism from both the relatives of the patients and ASHA workers. The lack of basic amenities and the substandard conditions in which the patients were left to recuperate have raised concerns about the quality of healthcare services and infrastructure in rural healthcare facilities.
Badal Kumar Mohanty, the in-charge of the CHC, cited ongoing construction work within the hospital premises as the reason behind the shortage of beds. He explained that the construction activities had led to a temporary scarcity of beds, leaving family planning patients with no option but to sleep on the floor. However, Mohanty assured that once the construction work is completed, patients would not encounter any difficulties in accessing beds at the hospital.
The incident underscores the urgent need for improved infrastructure and facilities in rural healthcare centers to ensure the provision of adequate and dignified healthcare services to all patients, especially women seeking reproductive health procedures. It also highlights the importance of addressing systemic issues such as resource allocation and staffing shortages to enhance the quality and accessibility of healthcare in remote areas.
As the authorities work to address the immediate concerns raised by this incident, it is imperative to prioritize investments in healthcare infrastructure and resources to prevent similar situations from occurring in the future. Every patient, regardless of their economic status or geographic location, deserves access to dignified and quality healthcare services, and concerted efforts must be made to uphold this fundamental right.
