Healthcare is the primary focus area of my Government; and we are investing more than Rs 8,500 crore on health infrastructure,” Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said this on Wednesday while interacting with 786 doctors who were recently selected through the OPSC.
Patnaik said his Government is continuously strengthening the healthcare system by recruiting large numbers of personnel in the last few years. Appreciating the doctors’ role in the current pandemic, he said doctors have a special respect in society. People look at doctors like gods, especially when it’s a life-and-death situation. The current pandemic has transformed doctors into warriors, he said. Congratulating the young doctors, Patnaik said, “Your family is proud of your achievement. You are now a role model in your community.” Making a cautionary remark, he said the fight against Covid is far from being over. “You are all joining during a very challenging time in the midst of the second wave in the country. Even though the cases are coming down, we all need to be extremely careful.” Health Minister Naba Kishore Das, Chief Secretary Suresh Mahapatra and Secretary to CM (5T) VK Pandian also spoke. In his welcome address, ACS Health PK Mohapatra referred to the
initiatives taken for improvement of health infra. He said the Shri Jagannath Medical College at Puri would function from this year. Till 2024, the State would have two more medical colleges each year.