BHUBANESWAR:With over 30 per cent of the sanctioned strength of doctors lying vacant in the state, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday announced a Rs 50-crore special scheme to reduce maternal mortality rate (MMR) and infant mortality rate (IMR) in inaccessible pockets.
The announcement was made at the annual meeting of the State Health Mission here.
While the MMR in Odisha is 222 per one lakh deliveries, the IMR has come down to 51 per 10,000 children born in the state. However, both these figures are above the national average.
Though the state government has brought down the IMR by almost 50 per cent during the last one decade, problems persist in inaccessible and tribal dominated pockets. The remote pockets in the state have several vacant posts of doctors and medical staff in primary health centres.
Health and Family Welfare Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak said the state government would appoint nearly 400 doctors to be mainly posted in Koraput, Balangir and Kalahandi region. He claimed the situation has improved after the state government announced new incentives for doctors.Official sources said the state government has identified inaccessible areas, where Rs 50 crore would be spent for reduction of IMR and MMR. The government would identify the high risk mothers through its rural health workers and provide special attention to ensure smooth deliveries.
The Chief Minister also announced that provisions of minimum diagnostic facilities would be available for the needy at all PHCs.