MKCG Medical College and Hospital's trauma care centre, which is yet to be operational since its construction six years back in the absence of sufficient staff, is likely to start functioning by the end of this month.
"The trauma care centre will start functioning with the existing staff," said Revenue Divisional Commissioner (southern division) Sanjay Singh, who had presided over the general body meeting of Swasthya Bikash Samiti of the medical college held here on Saturday.
"Road accident victims are taken to Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh or Bhubaneswar as the centre is not functioning in the MKCG, even though it is the only referral hospital in southern Odisha," said campaigner and member of the samiti Sudhir Sabat.
As many as 59 staffers, including eight senior residents, ICU medical officers (6), pharmacists (4), staff nurses (18), laboratory technicians (2), radiographers (4) and attendants (15), are required.
The centre has 22 staffers at present. "The unit is not functioning to its fullest potential due to shortage of doctors and paramedics," said MKCG Superintendent A K Behera.
After functioning of the centre, other staffers will be posted gradually, official sources said.
Moreover, the equipment procured could not be installed due to lack of space. The equipment was handed over to the related departments like orthopaedics, surgery and neurosurgery for utilization in treatment of accident patients, the sources said.
The foundation stone of the unit was laid on December 23, 2006, and the work completed on March 2, 2009. The Centre had sanctioned Rs 1.50 crore for setting up of the facility.
Campaigners had demanded immediate functioning of the centre, citing road mishaps, mainly on the two national highways passing through the district, are mounting.
Around 550 road accidents are reported in Ganjam every year. Several persons succumb to injuries due to lack of trauma care, said a doctor.
