BHUBANESWAR: The State Government will issue medicine passbooks to beneficiaries under the ‘Niramaya’ scheme.
A decision to this effect was taken at a high level meeting presided by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here on Thursday. The Chief Minister, who reviewed the implementation of the scheme, announced that the passbooks will be issued first at Acharya Harihar Regional Cancer Centre, Cuttack.
Under the scheme launched on May 1, 2015, poor patients are given medicines free of cost at Government hospitals. So far, the scheme has benefited 59.25 lakh patients and covered almost all community health centres (CHCs) in the State.
The Chief Minister directed the Health Department officials to prepare a roadmap within one month to offer common minimum diagnostics at different medical colleges, district headquarters hospitals and other health institutions. The common minimum diagnostics will include radiological and pathological diagnostics.
Procurement of medicines for 2016-17 will begin by August 1. As many as 421 varieties of medicines are being distributed among patients under the scheme. The Chief Minister said the process of procurement and distribution of medicines among patients should be computerised.
Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak, Chief Secretary AP Padhi, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister UN Behera, Health Secretary Arati Ahuja and senior officials attended the meet.