Earlier, there were two linear accelerators. With this, the total number of linear accelerators went up to four. This will substantially reduce the waiting time of patients.

Besides, the Chief Minister inaugurated a 30-bed day-care unit at the institute, enhancing the total number of day-care beds to 42. The unit has been established at a cost of Rs.6 crore.

Joining the programme on virtual platform, the Chief Minister said Odisha in recent times is witnessing massive transformation in healthcare sector. Apart from strengthening infrastructure of various public health institutions and providing free quality healthcare under Biju Swathya Kalyan Yojana, the state is now focused to make Odisha a major centre of cancer care in eastern India, he added.

He said besides infrastructure development for cancer care at public health institutions, the State Government is roping in private players to invest in development of cancer care institutions.

Shalini Pandit, secretary, Health and Family Welfare department, on Monday issued a clarification after some PG and Post-PG medicos expressed their concern regarding study leave.

She said the doctors serving under the department would be granted study leave for higher studies even during the 1st five years of their service.

“This was concurred by Finance Department vide their notification No-10235 of March 31, 2023. A maximum period of 6 years study leave would be allowed subject to other conditions of the absence from duty,” the secretary said.

The period of study leave would also be counted towards promotion. Besides, all OMHS/OMES cadre doctors pursuing PG/post-PG would be entitled to get their salary during study leave. Their salary would be drawn from their respective places of last posting, the clarification stated.

The centre was being operated in a clandestine manner from a rented house at Roxy Lane in Badambadi area. Two potable ultrasound machines along with medicines for female foeticide were seized during the raid on Health Home Hospital near Palamandap and two rented houses in Roxy Lane in presence of deputy collector Alakarani Debata on Wednesday.

Bhikari Parida, who was running the illegal prenatal sex determination, managed to flee.

According to preliminary investigation, Parida used to bring the portable ultrasound machine from the private nursing home to the rented houses to help people determine the gender of foetus. The clinic also allegedly conducted female foeticide, source said.

An FIR has been filed by ADMO & PH, Cuttack, for further investigation and necessary legal action against the clinic, informed CDM & PHO, Cuttack Makaranda Beura.

Notably, The Indian Parliament enacted the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994, to prevent the determination of the sex of the foetus before birth.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said quality and free healthcare has been the fundamental feature of state’s healthcare delivery system. “Our policy is driven by our motto of “Sustha Odisha, Sukhi Odisha”. For me, every life is precious. Not a single person should be deprived of quality healthcare for lack of money. While the ESI hospitals are taking care of 8 lakh insured persons, Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana takes care of 80 lakh families,” he added.

The chief minister hoped that the ESI hospitals and dispensaries will be centres of expectation and confidence for the insured persons catering to their special needs. He also announced implementation of Dynamic Assured Career Progression and Diplomate of National Board benefits for ESI doctors at par with doctors of the Health department.

Hailing the role of doctors in the society, Naveen said they belong to one of the noblest professions in the world and people treat them as savior of their lives. He advised them to be professional and create reassurance among the patients and their relatives.

Labour & ESI Minister Sarada Prasad Nayak, Development Commissioner Anu Garg and Labour & ESI secretary RS Gopalan also attended the function. Director, ESI Ashok Kumar Panda was present.

It may be mentioned that 45 hospitals and 12 dispensaries are now providing health care facilities under Labour and ESI department. Steps are being taken to establish 5 more hospitals under the department, according to a release from CMO.

According to official sources, the IMI 5.0 drive will be carried out in three rounds between September and November with each round spanning six days.

While the first round will be held from September 11-16, the second and third rounds will be held from October 9-14 and November 6-11 respectively. The drive aims to vaccinate 1,04,261 unvaccinated or partly vaccinated children and 19,896 pregnant women in 314 blocks of 30 districts.

A senior Health department official said that Odisha is one of the states with the highest immunisation coverage and is committed to immunise all under-five children who may have been left out or dropped out of vaccination programs.

The full immunisation coverage in the state has increased from 36.1 per cent in 1992-93 to 90.5 per cent in 2019-21. This has significantly reduced vaccine-preventable diseases and under-five mortality in the state.

Since 2015, several Mission Indradhanush drives have been conducted in the identified districts of Odisha. In IMI 5.0, the names of unvaccinated/partly vaccinated children and pregnant women will be registered on U-Win (digital platform) for vaccination during the specifically scheduled sessions.