Bhubaneswar: Odisha government on Monday increased the number of drugs to be provided free of cost to patients under the Niramaya scheme.
The number of medicines under the programme has been increased to 558 from the existing 499.
Odisha Chief Secretary, Aditya Prasad Padhi after a review meeting has also directed health secretary PK Meherda to monitor effective distribution of medicines under the Niramaya scheme.
The decision in this regard was taken at the review meeting of the Odisha State Medical Corporation (OSMC) held today.
Niramaya is the state's flagship programme under which patients are provided medicines free of cost at government health centres across the state.
Official sources said, Rs 254 crore have been provided in the first phase while Rs 58 crore have also been sanctioned for local purchase of medicines by Chief District Medical Officers.
Besides, clear instructions have also been laid out by the government to ensure that doctors of several state-run hospitals prescribe drugs being supplied under the Niramaya Scheme.