Bhubaneswar, Dec. 1 -- Amid surging patient load and the Odisha government's claims on prioritising healthcare infrastructure in the State, Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar continues to grapple with a severe manpower crisis.

A premier government healthcare institution in the State capital, the hospital is struggling under an unprecedented state of strain with shortage of doctors, nurses and administrative staff leaving patients and authorities equally distressed.

The irony is - the staff shortage and rising patient load is being witnessed after the hospital's upgradation to PGI status. While the daily patient footfall has more than doubled - from around 2,000 in 2021 to nearly 5,000 now - with rising public expectations, critical vacan...