Odisha govt to issue ‘Medicine Pass Book’ to Nirmaya beneficiaries

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Apr 21:

Beneficiaries of ‘Niramaya Scheme’ will be issued with ‘Medicine Pass Books’ by the Odisha government.

The decision to issue ‘Medicine Pass Books’ to Niramaya beneficiaries was taken at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik held at the state secretariat to review the completion of one year of the Niramaya scheme in the state.

The issuing of Medicine Pass Books will begin from Acharya Harihar Regional Cancer Centre, said a release issued by the Chief Minister’s office here today.

The Chief Minister further directed Health department officials to prepare a roadmap within one month to offer common minimum diagnostics at different medical colleges, district headquarters hospitals and other health institutions. Common minimum diagnostics will include radiological and pathological diagnostics.

The release said 59.25 lakh patients have benefited under the Niramaya scheme which was rolled out in the state on May 1, 2015. The scheme has been extended to almost all Community Health Centres (CHCs) in the state, it added.

Patnaik directed officials for making proper arrangements for timely delivery of medicines to all health centres.

The meeting discussed computerization of medicine procurement and distribution, indentation of medicines, collection of suggestions from beneficiaries among other things.

Procurement of medicines for 2016-17 will begin by August 1, the meeting was informed, the release said. Currently, 421 varieties of medicines are distributed under the Niramaya scheme, the release added.