Odisha University of Health Sciences Marks First Foundation Day Celebration

Bhubaneswar: The newly established Odisha University of Health Sciences celebrated its first Foundation Day today at its University Campus in Bhubaneswar.

Established on March 5, 2023, under the Odisha University of Health Sciences Act of 2021, it is the 17th Health University in the country. The celebration marked a significant milestone for the university, which has already affiliated 300 colleges and institutions in the state, offering medical, dental, ayurvedic, homoeopathy, nursing, pharmacy, and allied paramedical courses since the academic session of 2023-24.

Chief Secretary of Odisha, Pradeep Kumar Jena, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. In his address, he commended the progress made by the university and highlighted its role as a regulator to address various challenges faced by the state in health-related issues and climate change. He praised the commitment of the university authorities to providing quality health education.

State Development Commissioner-Cum-Additional Chief Secretary, Water Resources, and Planning & Convergence Department, Anu Garg, Commissioner-Cum-Secretary, Health & Family Welfare Department, Shalini Pandit, and Commissioner-Cum-Secretary, Higher Education Department, Sri Aravind Agarwal, were among the esteemed speakers and guests who addressed the gathering.

Vice Chancellor Prof Datteswar Hota shared the university’s achievements during its first year, meeting the state’s objective of bringing all medical and allied health science colleges under one umbrella to enhance the quality of education. The university has instituted 31 Under Graduate and Post Graduate Courses offering 91 Specializations, including Broad and Super Speciality. Prof Hota emphasized the planned research ecosystem in affiliated medical institutions and acknowledged the cooperation received from state government departments.

In her keynote address, Anu Garg emphasized the need for the university to provide diverse training and research in coordination with various government departments, hoping that the university becomes a center of excellence in the future. She offered valuable advice to the university authorities on different aspects to enhance its impact on health and medical education in the state.