Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday approved a 30 per cent increase in the food subsidy given to indoor patients admitted for treatment in government hospitals to further improve the patient care delivery system. The decision will cost Rs 64 crore to the state exchequer annually and benefit more than 42 lakh patients.
According to the new decision, the average daily food provided per bed in hospitals will now be worth Rs 100 instead of Rs 85, the allocation for infants’ food has been increased from Rs 75 to Rs 95, the allocation for high-nutrition food from Rs 95 to Rs 120, dry food from Rs 75 to Rs 95. The average daily allowance has been increased from Rs.85 to Rs.100.
It is worth noting that food will be provided at this increased price in 618 government hospitals across the state.
The Government of Odisha has taken many reforms to provide better healthcare. To achieve the target of public healthcare in the state and to reduce private expenditure on treatment, the Biju Health Welfare Scheme offers free healthcare, free diagnostic tests, free medicines through treatment, free dialysis services, free blood services, free ambulance services, etc.
