Odisha government forms panel of doctors for upgrading SCB Medical College and hospital to world-class institute

BHUBANESWAR: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday appointed a team of eminent doctors for transformation of SCB Medical College and Hospital (SCBMCH) in Cuttack into a world class health care institution. Seven out of the team of the selected ten are Padma Awardees and four are SCB alumni.
“SCB is the crowning glory of our health care system and is the symbol of hope for millions and millions of people. This transformational initiative is aimed at providing world class health facilities accessible to the people of Odisha,” said a letter issued from the CMO.
The members of the advisory panel include cardiovascular thoracic surgeon at Asian Heart Institute Dr Ramakanta Panda, heart surgeon and chairman of Narayan Health Dr Devi Shetty, president of Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) Dr K Srinath Reddy, gastroenterologist Dr Subrat Acharya, renal transplant surgeon Dr Mukut Minz, pioneer in lung cancer and Tuberculosis treatment Dr Digambar Behera, medical director of Tata Cancer Hospital Dr Rajan Badwe, an innovator in cardiovascular medicine Dr Jagat Narula, ophthalmologist and director of L V Prasad Eye Institute Dr G N Rao and noted obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Purna Chandra Mohapatra. Director Medical Education and Training (DMET) of the state Dr CBK Mohanty will be the member convenor.
As a part of the 5T initiative, the state government had announced a package of Rs 1000 crore for the revamping and modernising of the SCB Medical College and Hospital in November 2019. As per the plans the hospital will be revamped as a 3000 bedded integrated hospital with state-of-the-art facilities and will be developed as an AIIMS Plus institute. The SCBMCH is currently ranked 14th among the top medical institutes of the country.
The government has announced to start the SCB expansion plan from March 1 while the land acquisition and eviction drive for the purpose had started in January. The government had also announced rehabilitation and resettlement package for those affected due to the expansion work.
The present campus is spread across in an area of around 100 acres while another 50 to 60 acres from the periphery will be included for the proposed expansion.