With an aim to provide free cardiac treatment services to poor and needy children of Odisha, the State Government on Thursday signed an MoU with the Prasanti Medical Services and Research Foundation (PMSRF). These children would get cardiac treatment services at the Satya Sai Heart Hospital in Ahmedabad for next two years.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Justice Vineet Saran of the Supreme Court; Chief Justice Mohammad Rafiq of Orissa High Court, former Odisha Chief Justice Kalpesh Jhaveri and State Health & Family Welfare Minister Naba Kishore Das were present on the occasion.The hospital was roped in on November 15, 2018 for providing free cardiac services to the children of Odisha. The State Government identifies and bears the transportation cost of the children.Till now, 1,019 children have undergone cardiac surgery and cured of their ailments. The next batch of children with cardiac ailments would be sent for treatment soon after a brief pause due to the Covid situation.
All pre- and post-operative care of patients at the hospital, including medicines, stents, coils, etc are borne by the PMSRF.The Chief Minister said his Government is committed to making all efforts for fulfilling the healthcare needs of the people, especially the underprivileged and underserved, in an equitable, accessible, affordable, transparent and time-bound manner. Expressing happiness over free treatment of more than 1,000 patients from the State since the agreement with PMSRF a couple of years back, the Chief Minister commended the foundation for its commitment to serve the humanity.Justice Vineet Saran described Odisha as his second home.
Notably, it was Justice Saran who introduced the PMSRF to Odisha. Justice Jhaveri said that Odisha is very close to his heart. He appreciated the way the Chief Minister is leading the State.