Repeated Postponements Add to Healthcare Strain in Western Odisha
Sambalpur, March 30, 2025 – The long-awaited inauguration of the Super Speciality Building at Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR), Burla, has been postponed for the third time, exacerbating the region’s healthcare challenges.
Originally scheduled for March 22, the event was delayed due to the cancellation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit. Prior postponements occurred on November 18 and December 29, 2024, frustrating patients and medical professionals alike.
Expanded Facilities Awaiting Launch
The 222-bed state-of-the-art facility, featuring 50 dedicated ICU beds, aims to strengthen VIMSAR’s medical infrastructure by housing nine specialized medical departments. Among them, five are new additions, including:
- Gastroenterology
- Clinical Haematology
- Endocrinology
- Plastic Surgery
- Pediatric Surgery
Meanwhile, the four existing departments—Neurology, Neurosurgery, Urology, and Nephrology—will continue operating from the new building. Additional specialists have also been recruited to improve services.
Healthcare Crisis Amid Delays
Currently, VIMSAR operates with only 20 ICU beds, struggling to accommodate critical patients. The addition of 50 ICU beds in the new facility would significantly ease this burden.
Additionally, the Nephrology department’s dialysis capacity is set to increase from five to 17 units, offering improved care for kidney patients. However, the delay in inaugurating the building has forced many patients to seek expensive private hospital treatments, adding to their financial strain.
Authorities Yet to Announce New Date
Sambalpur Collector Siddheshwar Baliram Bondar confirmed that the administration has not received a new inauguration date. While regular healthcare services continue in existing hospital blocks, critical services remain non-operational until the new facility opens.
Frustrated by repeated delays, local residents and healthcare stakeholders have urged authorities to inaugurate the facility virtually to make it operational without further postponements.
A Decade-Long Wait
The Super Speciality Building project began in 2014, envisioned as a modern medical hub for Western Odisha. However, repeated setbacks have sparked widespread criticism, with calls for the government to prioritize patient care over ceremonial inaugurations.
