Chairing the 7th State Health Mission meeting here, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced that a free medicine distribution scheme will be launched this year.
Medicines for all the diseases will be made available at all Government health facilities. A dedicated corporation will be established for this specific purpose. The Chief Minister also announced that 108 Emergency Ambulance Services will be extended to all the 30 districts during this year.
The capacity of district headquarters hospitals at Dhenkanal, Malkangiri, Jharsuguda and Kendrapara would be expanded to 300 beds, the Chief Minister said. He also declared that the ASHAs would be covered under the National Pension Scheme. Several other major decisions were also taken in the meeting.
Intensive Care Units at 12 district headquarters hospitals and the Capital Hospital will be established. A dedicated civil wing will be established for the Health and Family Welfare Department. Eight district headquarters hospitals will be strengthened to ISO standard.
Addressing the members present at the meeting, the Chief Minister said that as many as 11,000 patients received assistance of more than Rs 17 crore from the Odisha State Treatment Fund. He asked the health authorities to further streamline the service delivery mechanism to ensure swift disbursal of assistance from the OSTF.
Under Rastriya Bal Surakhya Karyakrama (RBSK), about 1.14 crore children from 0 to 18 years of age will be covered for four defects at birth, the Chief Minister told.
Several other issues were also discussed in the meeting to streamline the health service initiatives and strengthen the service delivery mechanism. The Chief Minister appealed all concerned to show greater commitment in providing affordable and quality health care, and work passionately to generate greater public trust in the health set up.
Among others, the meeting was attended by Health Minister Dr Damodar Rout, Finance Minister Prasanna Acharya, Chief Secretary BK Patnaik, Development Commissioner JK Mohapatra and Health Mission Director Dr Pramod Meherda.