Bhubaneswar/Keonjhar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi today inaugurated In-Patient Services and Trauma Care facilities at the Dharanidhar Medical College and Hospital in Keonjhar. He stated that these facilities will ensure better treatment for accident victims.
The Chief Minister highlighted that India has a high rate of accidents and accident-related deaths. In districts like Keonjhar, heavy vehicle movement due to mining activities is significant, and with upcoming industrial establishments and infrastructure development, vehicle traffic is expected to increase further. A robust trauma care system will play a crucial role in saving lives from sudden fatalities, he said.
He revealed that within a short period of forming the government, a decision was made to establish trauma care units in medical colleges across all mineral-rich districts. The facility inaugurated in Keonjhar today will soon be followed by similar setups in other locations.
The Chief Minister noted that multiple steps are being taken to improve Odisha’s healthcare sector. Hospital infrastructure is being strengthened, and doctors and healthcare workers are being appointed. Since the new government took office, 4,000 doctor and healthcare worker positions have been filled, with plans to fill 5,000 more doctor posts in the near future. New ambulances are also being provided. As Odisha progresses toward development in various sectors, the state aims to become a leader in healthcare and reduce accident-related mortality rates.
He announced that four new medical colleges will soon be established in Bhadrak, Jagatsinghpur, Dhenkanal, and Nabarangpur, with the goal of having medical colleges in every district. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the central government has decided to establish medical colleges in every district, funding 60% of the costs, while state governments contribute 40%. States like Telangana have established 34 medical colleges, but Odisha lags behind due to the previous government’s lack of focus for political reasons, the Chief Minister remarked.
For healthcare development, the state has implemented the Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana alongside the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, enabling citizens to access treatment at 29,000 public and private hospitals across India. All senior citizens above 70 years have been included under the Ayushman Bayobandana Yojana.
Addressing doctors, the Chief Minister urged them to treat healthcare as a mission, combining professional expertise with a service-oriented mindset to elevate Odisha’s healthcare standards.
The event was attended by Minister for Higher Education, Odia Language, Literature, and Culture Suryabanshi Suraj, Anandpur MLA Abhimanyu Sethi, Ghasipura MLA Badrinarayan Patra, Telkoi MLA Fakir Mohan Nayak, Patna MLA Akhila Chandra Nayak, and Champua MLA Sanatan Mahakud.
The Principal of the Dharanidhar Medical College and Hospital, Dr. Chinmayee Mahapatra, delivered the welcome address, while the Medical Superintendent, Mahendra Kumar Nayak, offered the vote of thanks.
