72 sub-divisional hospitals, 377 CHCs in Odisha yet to avail ‘Niramaya’

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, June 2:

While the Odisha government has been trumpeting the success of ‘Niramaya’- the state government’s scheme under which 570 different medicines are being provided free in government hospitals through the Odisha Medical Corporation completing a month since its launch on May 1 by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, 27 sub-divisional hospitals and 377 Community Health Centres (CHC) s are yet to be included under the scheme.

It remains to be seen when the state government plans to include these health centres under the scheme as people in rural and remote areas depend on these health centres for their health related needs.

Health & Family Welfare Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak held a review meeting on Monday on the scheme completing a month since its launch on May 1and claimed of the scheme achieving success. The Minister informed that the left out 27 sub-divisional hospitals and 377 CHC will be brought under the scheme’s coverage in the coming days.

Nayak said in the first phase the three government-run medical colleges and hospitals Acharya Harihar Cancer Institute, Sishu Bhawan and 32 district headquarters hospitals have been included under the scheme and 75 dispensaries (medicine distribution centres) are functioning in these institutions, 37 out of them are 24×7 counters.

Nayak claimed that apart from in-patients 4.4 lakh out patients in these institutions have benefited under the scheme in the one month period adding more than 14,000 out patients visiting these institutions are availing free medicines at these counters on an average in a day.

Out of the 272 drugs listed under the essential drug list at the launch of the scheme 170 varieties of drugs are being supplied, Nayak informed.

The Minister further informed that in the coming days on the basis of requirement while Primary Health Centres (PHC)s will be provided with 297 varieties of drugs, district hospitals with 478 varieties, medical colleges and institutes like Acharya Harihar Cancer Institute will be proved with 570 -the maximum varieties of drugs for free distribution.