Centre urges Naveen Patnaik to implement Ayushman Bharat scheme in Odisha

BHUBANESWAR: Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya while attending 4th annual convocation of AIIMS-Bhubaneswar on Saturday said that he has written a letter to chief minister Naveen Patnaik to implement Ayushman Bharat scheme in Odisha to provide quality healthcare facilities to common people.
“When the Parliament was in session, MPs from Odisha had met me and given written letters requesting implementation of the Ayushman Bharat in Odisha. After that, endorsing the letters of MPs, I have written a letter to chief minister Naveen Patnaik for the implementation of this scheme,” he added.
He said this scheme will not only help the people staying in Odisha but also provide quality healthcare to Odia people, who are staying in other states. Partnering with the private hospitals, better health facilities can be provided to people through the scheme, he added.
“We have made all arrangements to implement Ayushman Bharat scheme in AIIMS-Bhubaneswar so that poor people from Odisha who come to this hospital can take benefit of the scheme. I expect that the chief minister will implement the scheme in Odisha for the interest of the people of the state,” he added.
Previously, many Union ministers and their colleagues had urged the state government to implement the Ayushman Bharat scheme in Odisha, but nothing has materialised yet.
He said the world is looking towards India now for healthcare. “We have started the ‘Heal in India’ initiative to provide quality and affordable healthcare facilities to people of other countries in India. “In February-March, a big programme will be organised in India where other countries will sign memorandum of understandings (MoUs) with our hospitals and government to get healthcare facilities in Indian healthcare facilities,” he added.
While addressing the medicos, Mandaviya said health is not commerce in India. “Whole world has witnessed India’s commitment and ‘service to mankind’ attitude during Covid time. In our country, hospitals are regarded as temples. Those who are coming to the hospital as patients, they are the gods of these temples. Doctors are priests. Wherever you work, ‘service to mankind’ attitude should come to your mind,” he added.
He said, “Institute, society and government have helped you so much to build your career. Government spends around Rs 1.5 crore to make a doctor. So, you should be grateful to those who helped you to become a doctor.”
Mandaviya along with Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Union minister of state for health Bharati Pravin Pawar inaugurated a burn centre of AIIMS Bhubaneswar and laid foundation stone for a critical care hospital in this national institute. They also laid the foundation stones of School of Public Health and BSL3 laboratory at ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC) Bhubaneswar on Saturday. An annex building of the RMRC was also inaugurated by the ministers.