Cuttack: In wards meant to shelter mothers and their newborns, an inspection at SCB Medical College and Hospital found two women sharing a single bed, shortages of medicines and consumables, and safety concerns in a critical care unit. Disturbed by the findings, the Orissa high court said the true measure of a healthcare institution lies in the care it provides to its most vulnerable patients and sought urgent corrective action.Taking a stern view of the findings, the court observed that the true measure of a healthcare institution lies not in its buildings or reputation, but in how it protects and cares for its most vulnerable patients, mothers and newborns.The observations came after a special bench of Justices K R Mohapatra and V Narasingh considered an inspection report submitted by an advocates’ committee that visited the sick newborn care unit (SNCU) and maternity ward of SCBMCH. The visit was undertaken as part of an ongoing PIL on civic issues in Cuttack. Advocates Saswata Pattnaik and Kajal Sahu carried out the inspection under the stewardship of Orissa High Court Bar Association president Lalatendu Samantray.In its Sept 3 order, the bench stressed that the welfare of mothers and newborns demanded urgent attention.Invoking the words of French writer Victor Hugo, the court noted, “A mother’s arms are made of tenderness and children sleep soundly in them.” The bench observed that if those arms were to remain “tender and safe”, the wards entrusted with caring for mothers and infants must themselves be worthy of that responsibility.The judges also praised the advocates for undertaking the inspection pro bono, describing it as a “labour of love” deserving of the court’s “highest commendation”.Following the report, SCBMCH medical superintendent Dr Jyotish Chandra Choudhury and R&B Division-I superintending engineer Md Shahbaz assured the court that immediate repairs would be taken up in the HDU. Counsel for Odisha State Medical Corporation S S Tripathy said steps would be initiated to address shortages of medicines and consumables. Additional govt advocate Debasis Nayak sought time to obtain instructions from the authorities. The matter will be heard next on Oct 1.
