Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Nov 14:

On the occasion of World Diabetes Day, the Odisha government today decided to provide free medicines to those suffering from diabetes at all government-run health centres under the 'Niramaya Yojana' after conducting necessary health check-up.

NIRAMAYA

Even insulin will be provided to patients free of cost at these centres, informed Dr PKB Patnaik, State Nodal Officer, National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, CVDs and Stroke (NPCDCS) during the roll out of the programme at the Capital Hospital here today.

“We launched it at the Capital Hospital today. Gradually it will be extended to other districts. We are going to screen every diabetes patient for retinopathy by fundoscopy. We are going to supply thermoscopes at Community Health Centre (CHC)/Primary Health Centre (PHC) level,” Dr Patnaik  told reporters.

Notably, with 7 percent population in rural areas and 12 percent in urban areas suffering from diabetes, the state government has decided to implement the NPCDCS all over the state.