Odisha Signs MoUs with AIIMS Bhubaneswar, Jhpiego to Boost Healthcare Access

Bhubaneswar: Strengthening its push to improve healthcare access, the Odisha government on Wednesday entered into two key partnerships with AIIMS Bhubaneswar and Jhpiego to enhance medical services and capacity building across the state.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Mukesh Mahaling said the agreements mark a crucial step towards ensuring quality and affordable healthcare, particularly in underserved and remote regions.

Under the agreement with AIIMS Bhubaneswar, efforts will focus on upgrading healthcare facilities at the Sub-Divisional Medical Center in Rairangpur in Mayurbhanj district. The collaboration includes technical support for the construction of a 100-bed hospital building, along with the organisation of regular specialist and super-specialist medical camps covering areas such as dental care, ophthalmology, infectious diseases, and preventive health.

The partnership will also facilitate streamlined referral services, enabling timely transfer of critical patients to AIIMS Bhubaneswar for advanced treatment. Officials said the initiative will significantly reduce the burden on patients who currently travel long distances to access specialised care.

The second agreement with Jhpiego aims to strengthen the state’s healthcare system through capacity building in key areas such as human resource development, maternal and child health, management of non-communicable diseases, nutrition, and emergency preparedness.

Highlighting the significance of the collaborations, the Minister expressed confidence that the initiatives would lead to long-term improvements in healthcare delivery. He described the move as an important milestone in expanding access to reliable and affordable medical services for the people.

Officials noted that the partnerships are aligned with the state’s broader strategy to decentralise advanced healthcare services and improve outcomes in tribal-dominated regions like Mayurbhanj. The involvement of institutions like AIIMS Bhubaneswar and Jhpiego is expected to bring technical expertise, training support, and improved service delivery, benefiting thousands of residents across the state.