Bhubaneswar: In a significant move to enhance healthcare accessibility across Odisha, the Health and Family Welfare Department today signed two important agreements with AIIMS Bhubaneswar and the international public health organization Jhpiego.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Mukesh Mahaling announced the development, describing it as a major step towards providing quality and affordable medical services to the people of the state.
The agreement signed with AIIMS Bhubaneswar focuses on improving healthcare infrastructure and services at the Sub-Divisional Medical Center in Rairangpur, Mayurbhanj district. It includes technical assistance for the construction of a 100-bed building, organization of regular monthly or bi-monthly specialist and super-specialist camps covering dental care, eye examinations, infectious diseases, and preventive health services, as well as smooth referral and timely transfer of emergency patients to AIIMS Bhubaneswar for advanced treatment.
These measures are expected to greatly reduce the need for patients from Rairangpur and surrounding areas to travel long distances for quality care, ensuring timely and specialized medical attention closer to home.
The second agreement with Jhpiego, a globally recognized institution with extensive expertise in public health, aims to build capacity in critical areas such as human resources development in the health sector, maternal and child health, non-communicable diseases, nutrition, and emergency preparedness.
Minister Mukesh Mahaling expressed strong confidence that these partnerships would significantly strengthen the state’s health infrastructure. “I am confident that these agreements will further strengthen the health services of the state in the coming days and prove to be a historic step in providing quality and affordable healthcare facilities to the common man,” he stated.
This initiative aligns with the Odisha government’s ongoing efforts to decentralize advanced healthcare and improve outcomes in underserved regions, particularly in tribal-dominated districts like Mayurbhanj. Officials believe the collaboration with AIIMS and Jhpiego will bring world-class technical support and training, ultimately benefiting thousands of residents.
