In the absence of a separate burn unit in MKCG Medical College Hospital here, the only government referral hospital in the region, patients with burn injury are facing problem.
While some patients are treated in the surgrey unit, others referred to SCB Medical College Hospital at Cuttack.
At least five patients, who were referred to Cuttack in the last one month, died on their way or during treatment with the latest victim being Lalita Pradhan (13) of Karada in Raikia block of Kandhamal district, official sources said.
The girl, who had set herself ablaze, sustained 80 per cent burns and was admitted to MKCG Medical College Hospital. She was referred to Cuttack, where she died.
A couple from Dharakote, two girls, Banita Nayak (12) from Aska and Kanakadei Bhatra (17) of Nabarangapur were admitted here in the last one-a-half months and all of them succumbed to their injuries, the sources said.
On an average, 15 burn patients are admitted in the hospital every month. "There is need for a separate burn unit in the Medical College Hospital', said local MLA R C Chyaupatnaik.
Superintendent of the medical college A K Behera said separate burn and plastic surgery units with 20 beds each will come up in the hospital after construction of the buildings completed in 2016.
Referring to the shifting of burn patients to other hospitals, Behera said the decision is taken after counselling the patient and taking the opinion of doctors.
Chances of survival of a patient with 80 per cent to 90 per cent burns is remote even if he is treated in a burns unit, said a doctor of the surgery department at MKCG.
