Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday launched a District Palliative Care Programme (DPCP) at a function at the Lok Seva Bhawan through a videoconferencing with district Collectors and CDMOs.
As per the programme, facility-based palliative care services will be provided at district level health institutions, including the Capital Hospital here and the RGH at Rourkela.
Several in-patient and out-patient services would be provided under the programme. The in-patient services include free specialist consultation, training to the care giver, free drugs and consumables, free physiotherapy, counselling, spiritual healing, emergency care services, nutrition support, patient follow-up etc.
Out-patient services include regular consultation by trained medical staff, training to the car givers, free drugs and consumables, free physiotherapy services, counselling to patient and family, referrals to higher health facilities (Palliative Care Centre)
“Palliative Care Programme will play a significant role in realisation of the motto of our Government Sustha Odisha Sukhi Odisha,” said the Chief Minister.
According to the decision, six-bedded Palliative Care units would be established in each DHH. Ten districts have already been provided with Rs 10.25 lakh each for infrastructure development. As many as 39 Medical Officers and 42 staff nurses have already been trained.
Induction and refresher training of Medical Officers and Staff Nurses and Counselors will be taken up regularly.
“It has also been decided to start home- based Palliative Care in Nabarangpur district within the next two months, which will be scaled up to all the districts. Subsequently, palliative care services will also be available for terminally ill patients suffering from chronic kidney diseases, stroke, cardio vascular diseases, hemiplegia, paralysis, HIV/AIDS etc,” said the Chief Minister.
Expressing happiness over the programme, Adivsor to State Government on Cancer Care Dr Dinesh Pendarkar said that Odisha would soon find its glorious place in global map of cancer care.
The Chief Minister unveiled the Logo of Palliative Care for branding of the facilities.
Among others, Health Minister Naba Kishore Das and Health Secretary PK Meherda were present.