Odisha's healthcare facilities in shambles but govt spending lakhs on advertisement: Opposition

While lack of infrastructure in most of the health centres in the State continues to give harrowing experience to people, the Odisha Health Department is spending lakhs on social media campaigns showing its fake achievements, alleged the Opposition parties on Thursday.

Marred by the cases of deaths due to diarrhoea, medical negligence, lack of doctors and more, the State health department is now allegedly spending lakhs towards its image makeover instead of spending the same to develop the health infrastructure.

As per reports, the State Health & Family Welfare Department has paid over Rs 12 lakh for its advertisement on Facebook and Instagram for a period of just 90 days.

Besides, the health department has released a fund of over Rs 3 lakh to a private company towards the maintenance of its social media accounts for a three-month period from February 1, 2022 to April 30, 2022.

The State government should ensure proper infrastructure development, availability of doctors and medicines in hospitals, said Odisha BJP spokesperson, Dilip Mallick adding, “Only advertisements will not do any good for people. So, the government should first provide the basic requirements in a healthcare facility.”

Congress leader Debashis Pattnaik alleged that the health department is trying to hide its failures through advertisements. “Had the government judiciously diverted the money that it is spending on advertisements, the State’s healthcare picture would have been different,” he added.

However, the ruling BJD downplayed the allegations levelled by the Opposition BJP and Congress. “There has been a massive development in the health sector in the State,” said BJD MLA Latika Pradhan.

She claimed that the money (which is in question) has been spent for awareness purposes and not for any campaign or party propaganda. “It’s the duty of the government to create awareness,” Pradhan added.

How much Odisha government is spending towards advertisement?

As per the data presented by the government in the State Assembly, around Rs 400 crore has been spent towards advertisements by the ruling BJD in the last seven years.

On the other hand, the State Health Minister Naba Das said that from the WHA to the Centre has certified Odisha for having best healthcare facilities.

“It (the spent money) is a part of awareness in the 21th century. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has also directed us to spend more towards infra development in the State,” said Das.

“What’s the impact of spending so much money on advertisements? No advertisement could benefit people if the service is unavailable. The government should instead spend the money towards imparting more developed health facilities to people,” said Amiya Biswal, president of Rajya Rogi Adhikar Manch.