102 Ambulances for pregnant women, sick children in Odisha from July

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, June 8:

To provide timely health services to pregnant women and sick infants, the Odisha government has decided to launch 102 National Ambulance Services (NAS) under the Janani Sishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) from July this year.

Besides, the government has also decided to provide free mobile ambulance service for sick children aged between 0-18 years under the Rashtriya Bal Suraksha Karyakram (RBSK) across the state.

Briefing newsmen after the valedictory function of the annual review of National Health Mission (NHM) Programme Implementation Plan (PIP) 2013-14 with focus on reproductive maternal newborn and adolescent health (RMNCH+A) in the city here last evening, Health and Family Welfare minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak said around 350 ‘102’ ambulances and 728 mobile ambulances for children under RBSK scheme will run in the state from the next month.

Expressing hope that the problem of infrastructure in the health institutions across the state will be solved by 2017 with the launching of these programmes, Health and Family Welfare secretary PK Mohapatra said the doctors and the concerned officials working at the grassroots level should focus on proper implementation of various government schemes and particularly ensure the provision of free medicines to the patients.

“Specific instructions have been given to all the Chief District Medical Officers (CDMOs) and concerned health officials to ensure smooth supply of free medicines to the patients visiting the hospitals under their jurisdiction failing which stern action would be initiated. Besides, criminal cases would be initiated against those indulging in financial irregularities”, Mohapatra informed.

Present on the occasion, the state director of National Health Mission (NHM) Roopa Mishra informed that drug distribution centres would be opened at all the district headquarters hospitals in the first phase very soon and this facility would be extended to primary health centres (PHCs) and community health centres (CHCs) later.

Among others, all the CDMOs and other senior health officials were present at the NHM review programme.