The State Government on Thursday added nearly 200 more drugs to its essential drug list taking the total numbers to 500. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik released a booklet containing the names of the medicines and diseases here at the valedictory ceremony of a two-day CDMOs’ conference.

Earlier, the essential drug list of Odisha’s Health and Family Welfare department contained 310 items and 165 paediatric composition.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said the Government has been making sincere efforts to ensure people’s access to equitable, affordable and quality health services and urged the Chief District

Medical Officers (CDMOs) to carry forward the policies, plans and programmes to achieve health security to all.

Expressing happiness over the improvements in various indicators like the IMR, MMR, morbidity and mortality due to malaria, TB and diarrhoea and no new polio cases in the last five years, the Chief Minister said health sector needs an extremely responsive approach by service delivery personnel and said, apart from concerted efforts to fight dengue, malaria and diarrhoea, the Health Department must get prepared to face new challenges like Ebola.

He said, “The CDMOs should ensure disbursement of entitlements under JSY/JSSK and incentives to ASHAs from time to time. Hassle free service under Biju Krushan Kalyan Yojan and Odisha State Treatment Fund must be provided to farmers and other poor people. Proper sanitation both within and outside hospital premises is essential.”

Among others, Health and Family Welfare Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak, Secretary Arti Ahuja and NHM Director Roopa Mishra attended the conference.