Orissa high court directs state govt to provide timeline for installing digital boards at SCB Medical College for patients

Cuttack: Orissa high court on Thursday directed the state govt to provide a clear timeline for the installation of digital display boards at Niramaya centres in SCB Medical College and Hospital (SCBMCH), Cuttack, to address patient grievances over the unavailability of essential medicines and long waiting hours.Taking up the matter, a division bench comprising Justices S K Sahoo and V Narasingh noted that the proposal to install eight digital boards — meant to display available medicines alphabetically and highlight out-of-stock items— was still in progress. Dr Goutam Kumar Satpathy, medical superintendent in-charge of SCB, appearing via virtual mode, informed the court that the project cost was estimated to be Rs 11.42 lakh, and a tender would soon be floated for procurement and installation.The court was also informed by additional govt advocate Debasis Nayak that a communication dated Sept 3 from the CEO of Odisha Computer Application Centre (OCAC) had been submitted to the Director of Medical Education and Training (DMET), outlining the cost estimate. The bench recorded the submission and posted the matter for further hearing on Oct 16.In compliance with an earlier order dated Aug 21, the court also reviewed the status of appointments of assistant professors recommended by the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC).

According to a letter dated Sept 2 from the health and family welfare department, counselling for 77 OPSC-recommended candidates in 16 broad specialities began on Sept 1. This follows the appointment of 12 assistant professors under OPSC advertisement no. 29 of 2023-24. Posting orders for the remaining candidates will be issued post-counselling.Similarly, under OPSC advertisement no. 15 of 2022-23 for super-speciality disciplines, 7 candidates have been recommended in 6 disciplines. Their counselling is also underway, the court was informed. The bench took note of the submissions and directed that updates be provided at the next hearing.