Odisha to have 102 digital dispensaries across 23 districts

To provide primary healthcare in remote areas of Odisha that lack doctors, the state government has decided to set up 102 “digital dispensaries” in 23 districts of the state.

An agreement was signed on Tuesday between the state health and family department and Kolkata-based Glocal Healthcare Systems in the presence of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Health Minister Pratap Jena.

Each digital dispensary has provision for an MBBS doctor consultation through video conference facility. In addition, a pharmacist, nurse, laboratory assistant and support staff are in place in each dispensary.

The dispensaries are equipped with a minimum set of investigations such as routine testing of urine, blood, haemoglobin, blood sugar, malaria, dengue, BP, ECG, sPO2, pregnancy detection and a pharmacy facility with dispensing of generic medicine. All these services are provided free of cost to the people, under Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana.

In remote areas of Odisha, where it is often difficult for people to access doctors, especially for minor ailments, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik-led government has harnessed the power of technology to bring the services of an MBBS doctor and primary healthcare to the doorsteps of the people through digital dispensaries.

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