Cuttack, Sept 29: Questions are being raised over the availability and timely supply of stents at the Cardiology Department of SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, one of Odisha’s major healthcare institutions on World Heart Day.
The department handles a huge number of patients every day. However, sources allege that delays in the supply of stents are creating difficulties for patients who require cardiac procedures.
Doctors place the indent, but where is the delay?
According to department sources, doctors decide the type and size of the stent required for a patient and places an indent with the supplier. However, the required stent is allegedly not always supplied within the stipulated time.
As per the agreement, the supplier is expected to provide the stent within seven days. Department sources, however, claim that in some cases the waiting period extends to nearly 15 days.
For heart patients awaiting treatment, such delays can add to their anxiety and uncertainty.
Heavy patient load adds to the pressure
The cardiology department witnesses around 700 patients in its OPD every day, while more than 50 patients are admitted daily. The emergency section also reportedly receives around 10 to 20 patients every day.
Despite the high patient load, the department is also facing concerns related to manpower and infrastructure.
551 stents implanted in five months
According to figures shared by department sources, 551 stents were implanted during the last five months.
However, sources claim that more than 150 patients reportedly returned without undergoing treatment due to stent shortages or supply-related delays.
The issue allegedly continued last month, with more than 50 patients reportedly returning from the cardiology department.
Four deaths claimed, but official confirmation awaited
Sources have also claimed that four patients died last month amid the situation. However, there is currently no official confirmation establishing that the deaths were caused by a shortage or delay in stent supply.
The claim therefore requires verification through hospital records and an official inquiry before any direct link can be established.
Questions over the supply system
The reported situation raises several questions: Is there a delay in procurement? Is the supplier failing to provide the required stents on time? Or is there a gap in monitoring the supply process?
These questions become particularly important given the department’s large daily patient load.
SCB Medical College and Hospital has long catered to patients from across Odisha and neighbouring areas. Ensuring the timely availability of essential cardiac devices is therefore critical for patients who depend on the institution for specialised treatment.
The Medical Superintendent, Professor Dr Jyotish Chandra Choudhury, could not be contacted for a response on the allegations.
As the country observes World Heart Day, the reported stent supply issue at SCB brings the focus back to a basic question: When a heart patient needs a stent, how long should they have to wait for it?
