**Bhubaneswar:** Odisha Government has taken up several proactive measures to provide better diagnostics and treatment of cardiological diseases in public health facilities, said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik while attending the 23rd Annual Conference of the Cardiological Society of India, Odisha Chapter, in Bhubaneswar today.
Patnaik stated that cardiovascular problems account for more than one quarter of all deaths in the country and are also among the most common causes of morbidity and mortality in Odisha.
Realising the burden of the cardiovascular diseases, different schemes like NIDAN for free diagnostics, NIRAMAY for provision of free medicines, SAHAYA for free dialysis and Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana for free treatment are being implemented by the State Government from its own resources for the needy persons including cardiac patients.
Steps are also being taken to establish special cardiac care units in Government Medical Colleges. Besides, a specialized Cardiac Care Hospital is coming up in Jharsuguda, informed the CM.
Patnaik further said that empanelment of super-specialty hospitals in the private sector has been done to provide cashless treatment to the people. Over 13,500 cardiac patients of State have availed cashless treatment amounting to Rs 80 crores under Odisha State Treatment Fund.
With the introduction of Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana, many more patients will get cashless treatment free of cost, he added.
“The need of the hour is to focus on prevention of heart diseases and early diagnosis and treatment through state-of-the-art techniques and procedures. I hope the deliberations and academic discussions in this Conference will pave the path for better treatment options to the needy cardiac patients of our State,” said Patnaik.
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