Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Tuesday entered into strategic partnerships with 10 leading national and international organisations to strengthen healthcare infrastructure, improve specialised medical services, promote research and innovation, and enhance the quality of medical education across the state.
The collaborations were formalised through the signing of 10 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) at Kharavela Bhavan in the presence of Health and Family Welfare Minister Mukesh Mahaling. The agreements bring together the Health Department and institutions including Gujarat’s I-Hub, Antara Foundation, the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), Seva Daan Aarogya Foundation, Health System Transformation Platform, AIIMS New Delhi’s Centre for Emergency and Trauma Care, Amrita Hospital, Kochi, the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Tata Steel Foundation and Kaivalya Education Foundation under Project Swasth.
Calling it a landmark initiative for Odisha’s health sector, Mahaling said the partnerships reflect the government’s commitment to making quality healthcare more accessible through collaboration with premier institutions. He said the initiative has been taken under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the leadership of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.
A major component of the collaboration is the partnership with AIIMS New Delhi’s Centre for Emergency and Trauma Care, which will support the establishment of a district-level Centre of Excellence for Trauma Care and strengthen emergency medical services across Odisha.
The agreement with the All India Institute of Ayurveda seeks to promote healthcare based on Ayurveda and India’s traditional systems of medicine, while Gujarat’s I-Hub will support innovation, entrepreneurship and technology-driven medical education. The collaboration with NABL will facilitate accreditation of laboratories in district headquarters and sub-divisional hospitals, improving the quality and reliability of diagnostic services.
To improve patient support services, the Seva Daan Aarogya Foundation will establish attendants’ rest houses at six government medical colleges and hospitals, offering accommodation for families accompanying patients during treatment.
The department also announced that free heart screening camps for children will be organised in remote parts of Odisha. Under its partnership with Amrita Hospital, Kochi, children diagnosed with congenital heart disease will receive free surgeries, cardiac interventions, post-operative care and follow-up treatment.
Another key agreement was signed with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, for developing a climate-resilient drug warehouse network in the state. Separate partnerships with the Tata Steel Foundation and Kaivalya Education Foundation under Project Swasth will focus on strengthening public healthcare systems, institutional capacity and research.
On the occasion, the upgraded Tele-MANAS facility at the Mental Health Institute of SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack, was virtually inaugurated. The enhanced service will provide improved access to mental health counselling and psychological support, particularly for people in remote and underserved areas.
The programme was attended by Health and Family Welfare Department Principal Secretary Aswathy S., National Health Mission Managing Director Dr. Brunda D., representatives of the partner institutions and senior officials of the Health Department.
