Bhajans Introduced in ICUs at Odisha’s SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack to Enhance Patient Treatment by Doctors

To boost the treatment of patients, the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Odisha’s Cuttack has decided to play “spiritual bhajans” in all of its Intensive Care Units (ICUs), as per a report. The hospital authorities believe that playing these devotional songs instrumentally will have a positive impact and provide comfort to critical patients. The proposal for music therapy was approved by the hospital authorities, recognizing its potential to enhance patient recovery through a positive and spiritual environment. Dr. Abinash Rout, the vice-chancellor of the hospital, stated that they would soon float a tender to assign private firms the responsibility of providing music therapy in the ICUs. This approach is not new, as music and laughter therapy were introduced in the Sir Sayajirao General (SSG) Hospital in Gujarat’s Vadodara during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. A Lancet study suggests that music therapy can be an effective treatment for depression in older adults, although the comparative effect of different music intervention features on depression remains unclear.