Bhubaneswar: Despite the completion of its building, installation of medical equipment and other necessary arrangements, the much-awaited Trauma Care Centre at Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar is yet to be inaugurated.

The facility, which was expected to strengthen emergency healthcare services in the state capital, remains non-functional due to administrative hurdles and a shortage of manpower.

The five-storey building has been ready for more than a year. However, patients are still waiting for the facility to become operational.

Environmental clearance granted, recruitment pending

The delay was initially caused by pending environmental clearance from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and issues related to the plot number with the General Administration (GA) Department. These hurdles affected the approval of the building plan and the formal handover of the facility.

However, sources said that the required NGT approval for both the Trauma Care Centre and the PGI building was received recently. Despite this, the centre is yet to become operational as the Health Department has not recruited the required manpower.

Officials said that the facility cannot start functioning without adequate staff. Recruitment of the necessary personnel is therefore the next major requirement before patient services can begin.

Rs 85 crore project with 200 beds

Construction of the Level-I Trauma Care Centre began in 2022 at an estimated cost of around Rs 85 crore. The five-storey facility has a capacity of 200 beds and was designed to provide advanced treatment to patients suffering serious injuries, particularly in road accidents.

The centre will have departments such as orthopaedics, surgery, plastic surgery and anaesthesia. It will also house modular operation theatres and various specialised wards to provide comprehensive emergency treatment.

After the Works Department completed the construction, the Health Department initiated steps to arrange medical equipment and other infrastructure required to run the facility. However, regulatory and land-related approval issues reportedly delayed the subsequent process.

Accident victims still referred to SCB Hospital and AIIMS

The absence of a dedicated trauma care facility in the state capital continues to affect emergency healthcare services. Patients who suffer critical injuries in road accidents often have to be shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Kataka or AIIMS Bhubaneswar for advanced treatment.

Once operational, the 200-bed trauma centre is expected to significantly improve emergency medical services in the capital by providing specialised treatment to critically injured patients.