Bhubaneswar: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik Thursday launched District Palliative Care Programme through Video Conferencing with District Collectors and CDMOs.

As per the programme, facility based Palliative Care Services will be provided at district level health institutions including Capital Hospital, Bhubaneswar and RGH Rourkela.
Under the programme, several in-patient and out-patient services will be provided in the programme. The in-patient services include Free specialist consultation, training to the care giver, free drugs & consumables, free physiotherapy, counselling, spiritual healing, emergency care services, nutrition support, patient follow-up.
Out patient services include regular consultation by trained medical staff (Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Health Care Services), training to the Care —Givers,Free Drugs & Consumables, Free Physiotherapy services, Counselling to patient & family, Referrals to Higher Health Facilities (Palliative Care Centre)
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Shri Naveen Patnaik said the Palliative Care Programme will play a significant role in realisation of the motto of our Government Sustha Odisha Sukhi Odisha.
It may be recalled here that in May 2017, the Chief Minister had launched District Cancer Care Programme. Under this initiative, till date more than 30,000 Cancer patients have received consultation and 14,000 patients have received Chemotherapy Cycles in District Day Care Cancer Chemotherapy Centres. The Govt of Odisha is providing 86 types of Anti Cancer Drugs free of cost and all investigations are being provided free to all Cancer patients under Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana.
It has been decided to develop District Headquarters hospitals with appropriate infrastructure facilities for the Palliative Care Programme. The decisions include
Six bedded Palliative Care units will be established in each District head quarter hospitals to provide facility based palliative care services in each district. 10 districts have already been provided with Rs. 10.25 lakhs each for infrastructure development.
39 Medical Officers and 42 Staff Nurses already trained in Palliative Care will provide services at these Centres in 30 DHH, RGH Rourkela and Capital Hospital, Bhubaneswar.
Induction and refresher Training of Medical Officers and Staff Nurses and Counselors will be taken up regularly to increase proficiency of staffs. Trained Medical Officers and Staff Nurses are in place for rendering services.
The Chief Minister said, “It has also been decided to start homebased Palliative Care in Nabarangpur district within the next two months, which will be scaled up to all the districts. Subsequently, Palliative Care Services will also be available for terminally ill patients suffering from Chronic Kidney Diseases, Stroke, Cardio Vascular Diseases, Hemiplegia, Paralysis, HIV/AIDS etc.”
Expressing happiness over the programme, Adivsor to State Government on Cancer Care Dr. Dinesh Pendarkar said that Odisha will soon find its glorious place in global map of Cancer Care.
The Chief Minister unveiled the Logo of Palliative Care for branding of the facilities. Among others Health Minister Shri Naba Kishore Das, Advisor to Odisha Government on Cancer Care Dr. Dinesh Pendarkar, Health Secretary Shri P K Meherda were present.