The state government on Tuesday signed an MoU with Glocal Healthcare Systems for operation and management of 102 digital dispensaries across 23 districts.
The MoU was signed following success of the ‘digital dispensary’ model in 25 locations in Nabarangpur and five in Keonjhar districts.
Through digital dispensaries, the state government has harnessed technology to bring primary healthcare to the doorsteps of the people in remote pockets where people don’t have easy access to a doctor.
Each digital dispensary has provision for an MBBS doctor consultation through videoconferencing facility. In addition, a pharmacist, nurse, laboratory assistant and support staff are in place in each dispensary.
The dispensaries are equipped with minimum set of investigations for urine test, blood, hemoglobin, blood sugar, malaria, dengue, blood pressure and pregnancy detection with a pharmacy facility with dispensing generic medicine. All these services are provided free of cost to the people under the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana.
Chief minister Naveen Patnaik, who was present during the MoU signing ceremony, said his government has been making efforts to make healthcare accessible and affordable.
“We have decided to use technology to bring the services of doctors to the doorsteps of the people in difficult-to-reach areas through digital dispensaries,” said -Naveen Patnaik (Chief minister of Odisha).
The chief minister said over one lakh people have already received free healthcare till date under the initiative in two districts.
The chief minister also interacted with some beneficiaries of the digital dispensaries at Nabarangpur and Keonjhar districts.
