Berhampur, July 23 (UDN): The demand for establishing a dedicated Burn Care Unit at Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati (MKCG) Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur has gained renewed momentum following the deaths of three critically injured burn patients who had to be referred to other hospitals due to the absence of specialised treatment facilities.
The three patients, who suffered severe burn injuries between June and July 2026, were shifted to higher medical centres after MKCG Hospital was reportedly unable to provide advanced burn care. All three later succumbed to their injuries, intensifying public concern over the lack of a dedicated burn treatment facility in south Odisha.
Repeated Referrals Spark Concern
According to reports, the deceased included MV Constable Ashutosh Mrudangia, who sustained critical burn injuries on June 5, a woman admitted on July 11, and another young woman from Bada Bazar who suffered burn injuries a few days later.
The absence of a specialised burn care unit at MKCG forced doctors to refer all three patients to other hospitals, where they later died.
The incidents have reignited concerns over the region’s dependence on distant tertiary healthcare facilities for the treatment of severe burn injuries.
Activists Seek Immediate Action
Social activists and healthcare advocates have urged the state government to establish a fully equipped Burn Care Unit without further delay.
Social worker Aditya Rath said patients from southern Odisha continue to be referred outside the district because of inadequate specialised infrastructure, shortage of trained medical professionals, and insufficient paramedical support.
He argued that timely treatment at MKCG could significantly improve the survival chances of critically injured burn patients and urged the government to prioritise the project.
Human Rights Forum Threatens Protest
The Human Rights Protection Forum has also demanded immediate establishment of the facility, warning that it will intensify its agitation if concrete steps are not taken.
Forum representatives said successive governments had announced plans to upgrade MKCG Hospital but the long-pending Burn Care Unit has yet to become a reality.
Government Says Work Underway
Responding to the concerns, Ganjam District BJP President Saroj Panda said the state government has initiated a comprehensive plan to upgrade MKCG Medical College and Hospital with facilities comparable to AIIMS.
According to Panda, funds have been earmarked for the hospital’s expansion, and the process of establishing a Burn Care Unit has already begun, with the procurement of essential medical equipment currently underway.
The issue has once again highlighted the need for advanced trauma and burn care facilities in southern Odisha, where patients often face long-distance referrals during medical emergencies, delaying critical treatment.