Critical care lacking, W Odisha patients suffer

The ICU at VIMSAR, which has only 20 beds, often remains overwhelmed with patients. Another ICU can be of help

- MAYANK BHUSAN PANI @Sambalpur

DELAY in creation of ICU facilities at Sambalpur district headquarters hospital (DHH) coupled with shortage of critical care beds in VIMSAR, Burla continue to claim lives of patients in western Odisha.

A 46-year-old woman reportedly died on February 15 after being unable to avail an ICU bed in VIMSAR, the premier healthcare institution in western Odisha. Incidentally, Bijaylaxmi Barik was a resident of Modipara, an area in the city which is less than a kilometre from Sambalpur DHH.