AIIMS Bhubaneswar Faces Bed Crisis, Patients Sent Away

AIIMS Bhubaneswar is grappling with a significant shortage of beds in its trauma and emergency unit, which is equipped with only 50 beds. This limitation often results in patients being turned away or referred to other facilities, such as SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, especially when daily admissions exceed capacity.

Attendants report distressing experiences, waiting for hours only to be denied beds and subsequently taking their loved ones to private hospitals, facing substantial treatment costs. The situation highlights the critical need for expanded emergency services to manage the influx of patients seeking advanced care at affordable prices.

In response to the growing demand, AIIMS Bhubaneswar is undertaking expansion efforts. A new critical care block, featuring 150 ICU beds, is nearing completion on campus. This facility is expected to significantly enhance the hospital's capacity to handle trauma and emergency cases.

Discussions are also underway for acquiring additional land to establish a new, separate trauma and emergency unit. Health activists have proposed establishing trauma centers at every district headquarters hospital and optimizing the use of AIIMS's current operation theaters to alleviate the pressure on emergency services.