Emergency personnel stopped during the lockdown

The dialysis services at SCB Medical College and Hospital got disrupted as the police stopped some nurses during the enforcement of lockdown in Cuttack.

Around 70 kidney patients were admitted to the government-run hospital on the day for dialysis. The doctors had to stop dialysis instantly in the absence of staff.

While conducting a checking of commuters during the lockdown, the Mangalabag Police blocked the vehicles of some nursing staff of the dialysis unit of SCB Medical College and Hospital.

Police allegedly did not allow them to go to the hospital in their vehicles even after the staff nurses showed their identity cards and requested to let them go for performing their emergency duty.

The Superintendent of SCB Medical College and Hospital, Prof Annada Pattanaik, admitted that dialysis services were disrupted for some time at the hospital as nurses could not reach the hospital on time after being blocked by the police. However, the service was resumed later when the nurses reached the hospital after being allowed by police.

The incident led to resentment among the medical fraternity who demanded that the Government solve the trouble being faced by them in availing pass to deliver health care services. Under this Health Emergency situation, the hospital administration should make necessary arrangements to provide a pass for the first-line health care service providers. Later, considering the situation, the Police Commissionerate announced free movement for doctors, nurses and other health personnel working in both Government and private hospitals during the lockdown period in the State.