Baripada: A distressing incident at the District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) in Baripada has raised serious concerns over the availability of adequate facilities for patients in critical need.

At the 180-bed hospital, a man was seen carrying an elderly woman on his shoulders from the hospital premises to a nearby diagnostic centre, accompanied by another woman. A video of the incident, recorded by an onlooker, quickly went viral on social media, drawing sharp reactions and highlighting gaps in healthcare infrastructure and patient services.

According to reports, the man has been identified as Dhaneswar Patra, a resident of Shalabani village under Golamundakata panchayat. The elderly woman he was carrying is his 75-year-old mother, Domimani Patra.

Domimani had been suffering from a persistent fever for nearly a week. As her condition did not improve, Dhaneswar admitted her to the Baripada DHH for treatment.

On the day of the incident, doctors advised an X-ray examination. Dhaneswar alleged despite waiting for a long time, he could not arrange a stretcher or a battery-operated vehicle to take his mother to the diagnostic facility.

Initially, Dhaneswar and his wife tried to help Domimani walk by supporting her on both sides. However, she was unable to continue after some distance.

With no other option, Dhaneswar lifted his mother onto his shoulders and carried her to the diagnostic centre.

The viral video has since sparked widespread debate, raising questions about accountability and the adequacy of basic patient transport facilities in government hospitals.