Odisha Govt Approves Rs 1062 Cr Annual Action Plan for Health Infra Development

Bhubaneswar: In order to ensure quality healthcare services to the people, the Odisha Government on Thursday approved an annual action plan of Rs 1062.10 crore for the infrastructure development in the health sector in the State.

While giving approval to the proposed action plan, Minister of Health and Family Welfare and Finance Niranjan Pujari urged the department and chief district medical officers to prioritize patient-centric basic infrastructure in the hospitals.

Informing about the action plan, Health Secretary Shalini Pandit said that the approved amount would be used for the infrastructure development in the different district hospitals, sub-divisional hospitals, primary health centers, community health centres and health-sub centres in the State. Mission Director National Health Mission along with directors of Health Services, Medical Education and Training, AYUSH, Drugs Controller, State Institute of Health & Family Welfare, and Nursing have been asked to expedite the process for obtaining administrative approval against the projects from competent authorities. They were also directed to keep an eye over already approved projects from other sources at ground level for avoiding any possible duplication of resources and efforts, she said.

The major projects in approved annual plan included construction of 9 additional facilities in different district headquarter hospitals; 6 new sub-divisional hospital buildings; 60 community health center buildings; 47 primary health centers with staff quarters; 40 health sub-centers at grass roots level; upgradation of 5 primary and community health centers; development of residential and non-residential AYUSH centers; and, development of basic amenities in 696 primary health center and sub centers.

Additional facilities would be developed in district headquarter hospitals at Bargarh, Jharsuguda, Makangiri, Baripada, Nayagarh and Sundargarh. New sub-divisional hospitals would be constructed at Pattamundai of Kendrapara district, Umerkot of Nabrangpur district, Mathili of Malkangiri district, Chitrakonda of Malkangiri, Kariar of Nuapada district, and Aska of Ganjam district.