MKCGn ailing on many fronts

BERHAMPUR: It is the premier medical in south Odisha. People of 10 districts depend on this as their referral hospital. One of the oldest and well-known in the State, the Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati Medical College and Hospital (MKCG) itself is gasping for breath. Forget about treatment, the institution which produces doctors has not enough teaching staff and looks for periodic deputations. This has defeated the very mission of institution to cater to the needs of patients in rural areas. MKCG-MCH, it is said, has not yet been able to meet the criteria fixed by the Medical Council of India (MCI) that includes new rooms and faculties.Sources said, every year during the MCI team visit, some window-dressing is done. The Health Directorate has initiated some construction work and also ensures presence of doctors on deputation during the visit. Once the visit is over, everything is back to square one. Many important machines and equipment have been kept unused for months together. Some machines gather dust just because there are no adequate staff. Teaching in the college has remained anything but encouraging. MKCG has 33 departments __ 11 super speciality departments with sanctioned 36 professor, 75 Associate Professor, 111 Assistant Professor and 117 tutor posts. According to official records, the vacancy list includes 10 professor, 24 Associate Professor, 50 Assistant Professor and 61 Tutor posts. Even two of the super speciality departments like Nephrology, CT and  Surgery have contractual faculties. The irony is that Prof Sonamali Bag  wears many hats. He is the dean and principal, hospital superintendent as well as head of the Nephrology Department. The Health Directorate turned a blind eye on the vacancies __  a must for treatment and medical education __ but it has created new posts for the hospital.Earlier, the hospital was managed by the superintendent with an administrative officer, finance officer and nodal officer. Now, while the superintendent charge has been entrusted to the principal, it does not have an administrative officer. Only recently, two persons were appointed as senior hospital administrator and hospital manager.