AIIMS Bhubaneswar Patients Face Diagnostic Test Crisis

AIIMS Bhubaneswar is facing criticism as patients are compelled to travel outside for essential diagnostic tests. For the past three weeks, critical services such as urine R/M, complete blood count (CBC), and TSH tests have been unavailable within the hospital premises. This forces patients, including those from Nayagarh and Dhenkanal districts, to seek these tests at external laboratories, incurring additional costs and inconvenience.

Hospital authorities stated that the disruption in services is due to a shortage of consumables, with the hospital awaiting fresh deliveries. They acknowledged that a non-functional X-ray machine in the radiology department is also being addressed. However, patients and their attendants express frustration, highlighting the difficult circumstances, especially for those who are unwell and lack transportation to private facilities.

Staff members have also pointed to administrative delays in placing orders for reagents as a significant factor contributing to the ongoing issues. The situation has left patients questioning the hospital's ability to provide basic diagnostic care, despite its designation as a premier tertiary-care institute. The executive director's office has not yet provided a public statement regarding the prolonged service disruption.