Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today approved the establishment of Bagchi-Karunashraya Palliative Care Centre in Bhubaneswar. Services will be provided free of cost at the healthcare facility.

Karunashraya Hospice Trusts, a charitable organization, has volunteered to establish the hospital. It will be first-of-its-kind in Odisha. Apart from Hospice based Palliative Care, it shall provide Home Based Palliative Care and take the responsibility to train local doctors, healthcare providers and caregivers in Palliative Care.

Subroto Bagchi, Odisha Skill Development Authority Chairman, and his wife Susmita Bagchi have pledged Rs 130 crore for the Palliative Care Centre. Odisha government will provide 20 acres of land in Infocity-II, Bhubaneswar free of cost for establishment of the hospital.

The Palliative Care Hospital will be equipped with 100 beds, which will be expanded later. The Palliative Care Centre will provide Holistic Palliative Care along with Pain Clinic, aseptic procedures etc.