Jeypore: At the District Headquarters Hospital (DHH), mobile network connectivity is severely lacking, especially inside the new 7-story building, causing significant inconvenience to doctors, staff, patients, and visitors. Despite repeated disruptions, neither hospital authorities nor telecom companies have taken any steps to resolve the issue. Even local legislators and MPs have yet to intervene.
In many parts of the newly built 7-story hospital block, there is either no mobile signal or only extremely weak connectivity. BSNL’s service is practically nonexistent, while two other private telecom companies provide very poor signals. Although phones work in some open areas, most sections, including the ground floor office, OPD rooms on the first floor, laboratories, lifts, and the upper floors (second to sixth), are severely affected by the network blackout.
Due to this, doctors and hospital staff are unable to communicate for urgent tasks, and in the absence of an intercom system in many areas, staff are forced to physically go to different locations to relay messages. The lack of a proper network is also causing distress to patients and their attendants, especially when they need to arrange for blood, medicines, or emergency supplies.
A hospital employee remarked that currently only about one-third of the new 7-story building is operational, and even there, mobile services are not properly accessible. Once the entire building becomes fully functional, the problem is likely to worsen. The issue has already been reported to higher authorities. A meeting with a private telecom company representative was held, where the person admitted that unless hospital authorities request formally, nothing can be done. They said only a letter can be submitted, and only if MLAs or MPs intervene, the problem might be resolved.
The signal capacity in the 7-story DHH building is extremely weak. If the district administration gives permission, telecom companies could install a dedicated tower within the hospital premises, which would help improve connectivity for BSNL and the two other private providers currently operating in the area.