Odisha govt expands the number of free diagnostic services to 146: Health Minister

Bhubaneswar: In yet another significant step towards qualitative universal health care for the people of Odisha, the State government has expanded the range of free diagnostic services to 146, said Minister Health & Family Welfare (H&FW) and Finance Niranjan Pujari today.

Pujari further said, “These services are assured under NIDAAN scheme launched by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik from January 1, 2018. The entire population of the State, irrespective of income level, is entitled to get these free services in the government hospitals and health sub-centres. The medical colleges and hospitals (MC&Hs) will provide 221 types of pathological tests free of cost.”

Secretary H&FW Shalini Pandit said, “The list of essential diagnostic tests will be modified keeping in view the State’s priority and burden of diseases from time to time.”

Pandit clarified that henceforth the district headquarters hospitals (DHHs) would provide 146 types of tests, the sub-divisional hospitals (SDHs) would provide 121 types of tests, the community health centres (CHCs) would provide 103 types of tests, primary health centres (PHCs) would provide 65 types of tests, and sub-centres would provide 16 types diagnostic tests free of cost to all patients. Different MC&Hs of the State will provide 221 types of cost-free diagnostic tests to all patients.

The speciality and high-end pathological tests would be provided through credible outsource agencies selected through Gem tender. The selected agency would establish required sample collection centres at District, Sub-division, Block, CHC and PHC levels. Heads of the government health facilities were asked to display the list of assured diagnostic services at prominent places of their respective institutions for public information and awareness.

The H&FW Minister assured that the quality of free diagnostic services would be ensured through appropriate external and internal quality control measures as per national quality assurance standards.

Notably, some expensive high-end diagnostic services are also to be provided free of cost.