Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday directed the concerned Health department authorities to start issuing medicine passbooks to the beneficiaries of the 'Niramaya Yojana'.
The directive came at a review meeting on the status of Niramaya Yojana at the State Secretariat here.
It was decided that the medicine passbook system would begin from the Acharya Harihar Regional Cancer Centre in Cuttack.
The chief minister also directed the Health department to prepare a road map within a month to set up common minimum diagnostic units, with provision for Radiology and Pathology sections, in all medical colleges and hospitals, district headquarters hospitals and other health centres.
He laid emphasis on timely supply of medicines to all health centres and directed the authorities of the Odisha State Medical Corporation (OSMC) for quick procurement of medicines and equipment in a transparent manner.
Patnaik also directed the Health department authorities to expedite setting up of medicine distribution centres, recruitment of pharmacists, construction of medicine godowns and strengthening of the medicine distribution network.
The meeting discussed medicine indentation and customers’ opinions on the functioning of Niramaya Yojana.
It was decided that OSMC would begin procurement of medicine for the year 2016-17 by August 1 this year. Sources in the Health department said 421 types of medicines are being distributed among the beneficiaries under Niramaya Yojana.
Launched on May 1, 2015, the scheme has been extended to almost all community health centres (CHCs) in the state. The scheme has benefited about 59.25 lakh beneficiaries.
Niramaya Yojana is a health insurance scheme for the welfare of persons with autism, cerebral palsy, mental retardation and multiple disabilities.
The objective of the scheme is to encourage health services seeking behaviour among persons with developmental disability and improve their general health condition and quality of life.