Ensure Proper Health Services To People, CM Tells CDMOs

Bhubaneswar: Ahead of the implementation of the Mo Sarkar scheme in Odisha scheduled to begin from October 2, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday asked the Chief District Medical Officers to ensure proper health services to the people in their respective districts.

Citing an instance of the selfless service of a local doctor in Kashipur block in Rayagada district during the tragic mango kernel incidents in 2001, the Chief Minister, in a video conferencing with the CDMOs at the Lok Seva Bhawan here, said he had visited Kashipur during those days and found that people had immense respect and faith in the doctor. He was the one who people listened to more than the administration and the police.

The Chief Minister said he was so moved by the exemplary service of the local doctor that he had deputed four IAS probationers to visit Kashipur and learn from him and follow the good work that he was doing. “We need more such role models throughout the state,” he pointed out.

Referring to the success the state had achieved in the health sector, the Chief Minister said the state had the sharpest fall in Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) among the states while the world recognised the efforts of the state government in the eradication of malaria from Odisha.

Reminding the CDMOs that the entire infrastructure, budget and medical college belongs to the people who are the real owners, he said it is very important that the state government get their feedback on how they feel about the health services provided to them.

On the presence of middlemen in hospitals in some places, the Chief Minister said the Superintendents of Police will make sure that hospitals are free of any middlemen and take tough action against them.

He further said that through the Mo Sarkar initiative, he will personally talk at random to the patients on the basis of their feedback, immediate follow-up action will be taken.