Viral Video Sparks Probe at SCB Medical College
SCB Medical College and Hospital has come under scrutiny after a video allegedly showing a female patient falling from her bed inside the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) went viral on social media. The incident has triggered concern over patient safety and staffing conditions at one of Odisha’s largest government hospitals.
Inquiry Committee Constituted
Following the incident, hospital authorities constituted a six-member inquiry committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fall. According to media reports, the panel has been tasked with examining possible lapses in supervision, patient monitoring, and overall ICU management.
Committee Headed by Senior Professor
As reported by The New Indian Express, the inquiry panel will be headed by Prof Saroj Kumar Tripathy, Head of the Department of Medicine. Additional Superintendent Dr Jyotirmay Nayak stated that the committee will submit its findings for further administrative action.
Administrative Changes After Incident
In the wake of the preliminary inquiry, Prof Subhendu Acharya, who was heading the ICU, has been relieved of his charge, with Prof Jayant Panda taking over the unit. Six nursing staff members were transferred to other departments, while two outsourced attendants on duty that night were also shifted. Authorities have additionally sought the removal of the security guard allegedly responsible for facilitating the recording of the video inside the ICU.
Acute Staff Shortage in ICU
Meanwhile, The Times of India reported that the 40-bed ICU has been functioning with only three nurses attending to nearly 40 patients, a practice said to have continued for several years. The staffing level is significantly below the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS), which mandate one dedicated nurse per ventilated patient and one nurse for every two non-ventilated patients per shift.
Concerns Raised by Attendants
Attendants of patients expressed serious concerns over the shortage. Sudhansu Jena questioned how three nurses could effectively monitor so many critically ill patients. Another attendant, Manmaya Das, said that adequate staffing might have prevented the incident and urged the government to recruit more nursing officers to ensure patient safety.
Hospital Administration Acknowledges Gaps
SCB Superintendent Dr Gautam Satpathy acknowledged the manpower shortage and confirmed that higher authorities have been informed. He said the hospital is reviewing manpower deployment and that additional staff would be accommodated in the ICU once new posts are sanctioned.
Government Initiates Recruitment Process
Health Secretary S Aswathy confirmed that the process to fill key vacancies has been initiated. With SCB being a major referral hospital handling a heavy patient load, authorities have assured that corrective measures will be taken to prevent recurrence of such incidents and strengthen ICU monitoring systems.
