Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today launched the District Palliative Care Programme through video conferencing with District Collectors and CDMOs. As per the programme, facility based palliative care services will be provided at district level health institutions including Capital Hospital and RGH Rourkela.

Under the programme, in-patient and out-patient services will be provided in the programme. The In-Patient Services include free specialist consultation, training to the care giver, free drugs & consumables, free physiotherapy, counselling, spiritual healing, emergency care services, nutrition support and patient follow-up.

Out Patient Services include regular consultation by trained medical staff (primary, secondary and tertiary health care services), training to the care givers, free drugs and consumables, free physiotherapy services, counselling to patient & family and referrals to higher health facilities.
Speaking at a function at the Lok Seva Bhawan, Patnaik said the Palliative Care Programme will play a significant role in realisation of the State government’s motto – ‘Sustha Odisha Sukhi Odisha’.

This apart, decisions were taken to set up six bedded Palliative Care units in each district head quarter hospital to provide facility based palliative care services in each district.

The State government has already provided Rs 10.25 lakh each for infrastructure development in 10 districts.

Also, the Chief Minister said, “It has been decided to start home based Palliative Care in Nabarangpur district within the next two months, which will be scaled up to all the districts. Subsequently, Palliative Care Services will also be available for terminally ill patients suffering from chronic kidney diseases, stroke, cardio vascular diseases, hemiplegia, paralysis and HIV/AIDS.”

The Chief Minister also unveiled the logo of Palliative Care.

Among others, Health Minister Naba Kishore Das, Advisor to Odisha Government on Cancer Care Dinesh Pendarkar and Health Secretary PK Meherda were present during the occasion.

In May 2017, the Chief Minister had launched the District Cancer Care Programme. Under this initiative, till date more than 30,000 cancer patients have received consultation and 14,000 patients have received chemotherapy cycles in District Day Care Cancer Chemotherapy Centres. The State government is providing 86 types of anti cancer drugs free of cost and all investigations are being provided free to all cancer patients under the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana.