Though nearly one year has passed since AIIMS Bhubaneswar was partly operational at the outskirts of the Capital City Bhubaneswar, the premier medical college-cum-hospital has not yet been able to take-off in a fully-integrated manner, thanks to the construction delays coupled with not getting rid of the as usual regulatory hurdles, causing infra bottlenecks. The project is already running way behind its schedule. Shortage of doctors has also added to its woes. While talking to Sandeep Pattnaik and Brahmi Priya Samantray, Professor Ashok K Mohapatra, Director AIIMS expressed his concerns about the manner in which AIIMS Bhubaneswar is currently running, and also highlighted the operational and technical glitches he is facing as head of this coveted institute. Excerpts.
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Q.1. Even after one year of operation, AIIMS Bhubaneswar is still unable to take-off in its complete mode. When it can start its full-fledged activities across departments?
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Ans. Let me tell you that, AIIMS Delhi took around 12 years to become fully operational (from 1956-67). AIIMS Bhubaneswar is supposed to be completed by 2012, but due to construction delays on the part of contractors, it is taking much time to complete. Even the entire building is not yet under fire safety cover, as it has not been fully completed.
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From infrastructure point of view it can be optimal / minimal / ideal. AIIMS Bhubaneswar inaugurated last year is in the 1st phase of its completion, having 350 beds at present. Our aim is to make it to 500 and to 1,000 optimally. The construction will be made phase-wise.
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Within one year, we are able to start Neurosurgery and Cardiology OPD, which no other six new AIIMS have. Besides, we have three operation theatres (OT) including an ultra modern Modular OT setup at a cost of Rs 2 Crore. And, being AIIMS a medical college-cum-hospital, super-speciality facilities are not mandatory. We have now 100 MBBS students enrolled in our college.
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Q.2. Do you think the overall budget allocation for AIIMs Bhubaneswar made by Ministry of H & FW adequate?
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Ans. There is no stratified budget yet for none of the new AIIMS centres. It is in the form of Grant-in-aid [GIA] through which the institute is running. We have requested the Ministry of H& FW to make a stratified budget for us in the fiscal year 2015-16. When the budget is segregated under four heads, i.e. Plan, Non-Plan, Contingency and Capex, the problem with GIA is we cannot spend money fully on our discretion under the mentioned heads. Though we may say that there is enough budget but it hardly satisfy our requirement as 90% of the amount is given through grant-in-aid to us by the Ministry.
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Q.3. AIIMS Bhubaneswar is facing shortage of permanent doctors so far. Even there was a tardy progress in appointment of contractual doctors. Then what’s your plan?
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Ans. Out of total 5,000 aspirants appeared for the interview done last December for six AIIMS, only 80 has made it to the final, out of which 70 has joined, as AIIMS recruit quality manpower / specialists in different fields and the procedure is quite stringent. Besides, doctors have no service mindset and becoming commercial minded to migrate to private hospitals for better pay-package. From May onwards we are again going for recruitment to fill up the vacant posts.
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Here in this centre, ironically even the DDA (Deputy Director- Administration) post to look after the recruitment process is lying vacant till now. I have put up the matter before the Ministry but no steps had been taken yet. We have now around 100 junior and 70 senior doctors serving here.
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Also there is a dearth of doctors of appx. 30-50% at present across categories in different hospitals all over the Country.
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Q.4. Even the most vital casualty cell is lacking experience doctors as being alleged. They at times showed their helplessness in treating patients and ask patients to approach you (the director)…
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Ans. We are the only center having casualty ward among all the six new AIIMS. Our casualty ward is attended by Jr. Residents and Sr. Residents. What we need is ethical, sincere and punctual doctors. Today doctors lack accountability and you will find absence of work culture everywhere.
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Q.5. The e-health card / smart card scheme announced earlier has yet to be implemented. What’s the reason?
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Ans. The e-Health card or smart card records a patient history / information which can benefit both doctor and patient. But let me tell you that, this system has not been successful in most of the Govt hospitals due to lack of awareness on the part of patients to use the card.
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Q.6. There are certain operational glitches like employees on-duty here not wearing their ID cards; mostly in reception and OPD ticket counters. Even the staffs at the OPD ticket counter are not giving proper information to the patients, as for example an Orthopaedic patient being directed to move to the medicine ward causing wastage of time on the latter’s part and the patients get irked at certain situations. What is your remark?
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Ans. I have repeatedly directed the officials to instruct the employees to adhere to the basic operating procedures, which was not followed. I am really concerned about that. Besides, lack of basic knowledge of the staffs and work culture causing harassment to the patients at OPD.
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Q.7. A satellite centre of the AIIMS, Bhubaneswar was about to come up at Balasore before elections. What is the progress in that front so far?
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Ans. Though DPR has already been submitted to the Finance Committee, approval for construction of boundary wall has not been obtained so far. Earlier, Government of India and the State Government have given in-principle approval to the project that is to be spread in around 30 acres of area.
