ESIC college should be set up outside capital

The Pioneer, June 12, 2009
PNS | Bhubaneswar

There are contrary media reports on the location of the proposed medical college hospital (MCH) of the Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESI) in the State. But some intellectuals have demanded that the MCH should be set up outside Bhubaneswar, particularly in the KBK region.

Prof Digambar Patra, a non-resident Oriya, said, “In my knowledge, geographical location can be more valuable to save life. Many lives are being lost every year in the KBK region just because of this.”

Patra said secondary health facility is very crucial for those places which are far away from Bhubaneswar and needs long hours travel such as Koraput, Sundargarh, Kalahandi and Balangir.

At the same time many private medical colleges are also coming up in many other places of Orissa including Bhubaneswar region where AIIMS, APPOLO, LV Prasad, Vedanta in Puri are being established.

Therefore, there is no logic why simultaneously Government should not establish Government medical college, especially where it is absolutely necessary, when private one is being encouraged.

It would be wise to establish such ESIC medical college in Balangir and upgrade other four regional diagnostic centres, in Koraput, Sundargarh, Kalahandi and Mayurbhanj, present in tribal pockets of Orissa to Government Medical Colleges like was done for Capital Hospital earlier, said Patra.

“I hope Orissa Government will take a strong stand on this issue and not encourage regional politics inspired by few members/leaders of Persons (IPs) of ESIC based in State capital region towards the larger interest of Orissa.”

However, there are reports in a section of the media that the State Government has no objection to establish the ESIC MCH outside Bhubaneswar.