Bhubaneswar, Jan. 28 -- Four years after its inauguration, the AIIMS Satellite Centre at Balasore is yet to become fully operational, leaving the long-standing aspiration of residents for advanced healthcare facilities largely unmet.

At present, the satellite centre offers only limited outpatient department (OPD) services, functioning just two days a week. Facilities for indoor treatment remain unavailable, compelling critically ill patients to travel to Bhubaneswar or other distant cities for specialised medical care. Several departments continue to remain non-functional due to the absence of specialist doctors.

Basic facilities such as laboratories and medicine stores are yet to be made operational. Patients have also raised concerns ...