REGISTRAR Vs. STATE OF ODISHA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This is a suo motu writ petition in the form of PIL.

(2.) On the basis of the report placed by the Registrar General dated 19.02.2020 basing on a news item published in the Odia Local Daily 'The Sambad' dated 19.02.2020 of Cuttack edition under the heading of "S.C.B. RE MAGANA CHIKITSA RA BIKALA CHITRA-THYROID, HORMONE O' C.T. SCAN MACHINE ACHALA", this PIL has been registered.

(3.) In the said news item, the apathy of a patent, who is under treatment at the S.C.B. Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack has been highlighted. It is mentioned therein that out of three C.T. Scan machines in the hospital, one is not functioning for last one month and as a result, the patients are compelled to approach and avail the services of local private diagnostic centres by spending heavily. It is further mentioned that the authorities of the hospital have been apprised about such situation but that has not yielded any fruitful result. Since the S.C.B. Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack is one of the premier Government Hospitals of the State and thousands of patients with different health problems throng to it everyday for treatment, it is quite unusual to expect and conceive that in such a prominent Government Hospital, the patients would suffer on account of defunct testing machines. The mental agony and trauma of the patients, who are suffering from serious ailments can be well visualised. Patients come to the hospital from low economic strata of the society and do not possess the means and resources to get their treatment in private hospitals where the charges of treatment are either exorbitant and normally on the higher side.