Amid reports of a lack of necessary infrastructure and overcrowding of patients plaguing healthcare services in most hospitals in Odisha, the state government has drawn up a major plan for overhauling the existing healthcare infrastructure. It has planned to increase the number of beds in the government-run medicals and hospitals. The works will be carried out in a phased manner as per the IPHS 2022 rule.
Besides, the number of beds at primary health centres (PHCs) and community health centres (CHCs) will also be increased, a move, which is expected to streamline the healthcare services and ease the burden at these facilities. The number of doctors and nursing staff will be increased accordingly.
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Significantly, 306 new PHCs will be set up across the state. Speaking to the media in this regard on Saturday, Health Director, Bijay Mohapatra said, “There are currently 28,000 beds in both private and government hospitals in Odisha. We have a plan to increase the number of beds from 28,000 to 45,000 or 50,000. The number of beds at PHCs and CHCs will also be increased.”
It has also been decided that 24-hour healthcare services will be ensured by two doctors at six beds in each PHC, that will be will be equipped with 30 beds.
Mohapatra also added that the construction work for 300 beds each at the district headquarters hospitals is in progress.
As per reports, there are 11 medical colleges, 1236 PHCs, 75 CHCs, 7 UCHCs, 32 sub-divisional hospitals, and district headquarters hospitals in the state.