Three years since its grand inauguration, the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in Sundargarh, Odisha, continues to operate in a state of alarming dysfunction, plagued by the absence of permanent leadership and critical medical infrastructure.
Leadership Vacuum Cripples Healthcare Institution
The medical college has been operating without a permanent dean since its establishment in 2021, with the position being managed by temporary in-charge officials. This leadership vacuum has severely hampered decision-making processes and long-term planning for the institution.
Critical Infrastructure Deficiencies Exposed
Despite being operational for three years, GMCH Sundargarh faces severe infrastructure shortcomings:
- Blood Bank Absence: The hospital lacks a functional blood bank, forcing patients to seek blood from external sources during emergencies
- Mortuary Non-Functional: No proper mortuary facility exists, causing significant inconvenience to bereaved families
- Diagnostic Limitations: Essential diagnostic services remain inadequate or unavailable
- Staffing Shortages: Critical positions across medical and paramedical staff remain unfilled
Patient Care Compromised
The infrastructure gaps directly impact patient care, with many critical services either unavailable or operating at sub-optimal levels. Local residents often have to travel to distant healthcare facilities for basic medical needs that should ideally be available at the district-level medical college.
Administrative Paralysis
The absence of permanent leadership has created an administrative limbo, with no clear authority to address the pressing issues facing the institution. This has resulted in delayed decisions, stalled procurement processes, and inadequate resource allocation.
Future Implications
The continued neglect of GMCH Sundargarh raises serious questions about healthcare infrastructure development in Odisha's tribal-dominated regions. The institution, meant to serve as a healthcare hub for Sundargarh and neighboring districts, risks becoming a symbol of failed promises unless immediate corrective measures are implemented.
