Bhubaneswar: Sharpening its attack on the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government in Odisha, opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday claimed that the power and water supply crisis seen at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack in last few days had exposed the fragile healthcare services in the state.
Addressing a press meet in Bhubaneswar, BJP’s state spokesperson Manoj Mohapatra said several departments of the premier hospital faced disruption in power and water supply during last few days. It showed that the state government’s tall claims about upgrading the premier institution into a world-class hospital are just hollow, he claimed.
Stating that incidents of treatment under candlelight and mobile phone torch were reported from remote areas earlier, the BJP leader said similar scenes are witnessed at the state’s major health institution now.
Accusing Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik of being incapable of understanding the problems of the people, Mohapatra said the CM must come out with a statement on the pathetic situation witnessed at SCB Medical College and Hospital.
Holding the state government responsible for the crisis, the BJP leader said that the Chief Minister, Health Minister, and Energy Minister must tender their resignations on moral grounds.
Claiming that the premier hospital experienced power outage for long hours on Saturday and Sunday, he said there the medical is facing an acute water crisis on Monday.
This caused considerable inconvenience to the patients and their attendants at various departments apart from affecting medical treatment and laboratory tests, Mohapatra alleged.
Senior government officials and hospital authorities were not immediately available for comment on the allegations made by the BJP.