Cuttack, Apr 11 (UNI) The Odisha government is committed to strengthening the healthcare infrastructure in the state and plans to establish a medical college in every district, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said on Friday.
The Chief Minister stated that currently, there are 12 medical colleges in Odisha. This year, the budget has made provisions for setting up new medical colleges in Jagatsinghpur, Bhadrak, Nabarangpur, and Dhenkanal.
“Keeping in mind the needs of the people, new medical colleges will be established in phases. Every district in the state will have a medical college,” he added.
Majhi was speaking at the launch of the Ayushman Bharat Scheme at the Bali Yatra Ground. Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda launched the much-awaited Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana – Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana, along with the Ayushman Vay Vandana Yojana.
Describing the event as “another feather in Odisha’s development journey,” Majhi said a new chapter has been added to the state’s history.
“From today onwards, beneficiaries in Odisha will receive free healthcare facilities. Odia people residing outside the state will also be able to avail of treatment in hospitals outside Odisha,” he said.
Majhi informed that more than 4,000 doctors have been appointed under the current administration, and another 5,000 appointments are in the pipeline.
The Chief Minister said this historic scheme, which had been denied to the people of the state for political reasons over the past six years, has finally been implemented.
Thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Majhi stated that approximately 1.03 crore families in Odisha will benefit from this scheme. Each family will receive free treatment up to Rs.5 lakh per year at 29,000 empanelled private and government hospitals across the country. Female members of the family will receive an additional Rs.5 lakh in free treatment per year.
He further mentioned that over 23 lakh senior citizens will benefit from the Ayushman Bharat Yojana. In addition to those already covered under the Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana, an additional six lakh people will be issued health cards.
In total, these combined schemes will benefit around 3.52 crore people in the state.
The Odisha government will receive central assistance for the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana in a 60:40 funding ratio, he added.
Majhi also informed that Rs.3,881 crore has been proposed in the state budget for health infrastructure projects under the Chief Minister’s Healthcare Mission, and Rs.420 crore has been allocated under the Ama Hospitals initiative.
On this occasion, the new seven-storey building of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Postgraduate Institute of Pediatrics (Shishu Bhavan) and a hostel for doctors were inaugurated in Cuttack. The new building has increased bed capacity from 422 to 846, including 140 ICU beds. The hostel can accommodate around 180 resident doctors, he noted.
Additionally, a microbiological laboratory has been inaugurated at the State Medical Corporation campus in Bhubaneswar. This lab will allow for the testing of food and water samples to ensure quality standards.
Among others present at the event were Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Jual Oram, State Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Mukesh Mahaling, Cuttack MP Bhartruhari Mahtab, Kendrapara MP Baijayant Panda, and Jagatsinghpur MP Bibhuprasad Tarai.
Deputy Chief Ministers Kanak Bardhan Singh Deo and Parvati Parida, MLAs, Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, and Health Secretary Ashwathi S. also attended the function.
