Odisha Health Minister Reviews Meeting on Healthcare Initiatives

Bhubaneswar: Dr. Mukesh Mahalinga, minister of Health and Family Welfare reviewed health schemes at the National Health Mission headquarters in Bhubaneswar. The session brought together senior officials, including NHM Managing Director D. Brunda, to deliberate on the effective implementation of the National Health Mission (NHM) and various pivotal healthcare schemes.

In his address, Minister Mahalinga underscored the government’s commitment to safeguarding the health of the people of Odisha. He emphasized the critical role played by initiatives such as the Janani Surakhya Yojana, Janani Sishu Surakhya Karyakrama, Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakrama, Sickle Cell Anemia Elimination Mission, and Ayushman Arogya Mandir in ensuring accessible and quality healthcare across the state.

Highlighting the need for enhanced infrastructure and services, Minister Mahalinga directed the establishment of Biomedical Engineering & Instrumentation departments within medical colleges under the NHM. He stressed the importance of reducing response times for emergency medical services, setting a target for 108 ambulances to reach patients within a maximum of 15 minutes.

Addressing the issue of manpower shortages, the Minister instructed officials to expedite the recruitment process to fill vacant posts under the NHM promptly. He urged the department to leverage information technology to simplify healthcare services and make them more user-friendly for the public.

Ensuring round-the-clock functionality and cleanliness of Community Health Centers (CHCs) emerged as another key agenda item. Minister Mahalinga emphasized the importance of regular yoga training camps at health centers across districts and urban areas, highlighting the health benefits associated with yoga. He stressed the need for permanent appointments of yoga instructors to promote wellness among citizens.