Paralakhemundi: To address difficulties faced by families in transporting deceased persons from hospitals to their homes, the Odisha government will soon roll out a dedicated hearse vehicle service across the state.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Mukesh Mahaling announced the initiative after a review meeting in Gajapati district on Thursday. The hearse service will be accessible through a toll-free number 109, enabling timely and dignified transportation of bodies.
According to the minister, the specially designated vehicles will be stationed at District Headquarters Hospitals (DHHs) and medical colleges throughout Odisha to ensure quick availability when required.
In another major push to strengthen primary healthcare, Mahaling said that Aayu Arogya Mandirs will be established in every gram panchayat across the state. The initiative aims to improve access to basic healthcare services and reinforce grassroots-level medical infrastructure.
Addressing the shortage of doctors in government hospitals, the minister said that postgraduate diploma pass-outs in the healthcare sector will be deployed at district headquarters hospitals.
“If every DHH is provided with five such personnel, the shortage of doctors can be reduced to a certain extent,” he said.
Mahaling added that all these initiatives will be implemented shortly as part of the government’s broader efforts to strengthen healthcare services across Odisha.
