The State Government has decided to set up a dedicated procurement corporation, the Odisha Medical Service Corporation (OMSC), for purchase and distribution of medicines to all government hospitals.
A decision to this effect was taken at the seventh meeting of the State Health Mission presided over by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday. Allocation for purchase of medicine has been raised to `204 crore by the State Government in the 2013-14 budget. This is `100 crore more compared to 2012-13. Hospitals will now have to purchase medicines from OMSC only instead of private companies.
Naveen told mediapersons after the meeting that medicines for all the diseases will be made available in Government hospitals. Out of 328 types of medicines, only 38 types of medicines are available in Government institutions now. Sources said the Health and Family Welfare department has been asked to prepare the blueprint for the corporation within six months.
The Chief Minister also announced that free ambulance service will be extended to all the 30 districts in the State. Besides, the capacity of the district headquarters hospitals at Dhenkanal, Malkangiri, Jharsuguda and Kendrapara would be expanded to 300 beds, he said and added that ASHAs (Accredited Social Health Activists) would be covered under the National Pension Scheme.
Other decisions taken at the meeting included establishment of Intensive Care Units (ICUs) at 12 district headquarters hospitals.
The CM said about 1.14 crore children in age-group 0-8 will be included in Rashtriya Bal Surakhya Karyakrama (RBSK).