New medical scheme introduced

By Our Staff Reporter

BHUBANESWAR, JUNE 20. The Orissa Government's Health and Family Welfare Department will launch a scheme for treatment of five common diseases of malaria, leprosy, diarrhoea, acute respiratory infections and scabies from July 1.

Briefing presspersons here today, the Health and Family Welfare Minister, Dr. Kamala Das, said the treatment will be free for uncomplicated cases of the five diseases. In case, any medicine was out of stock and the patient had to purchase the same for such treatment following a government doctor's prescription, the cost will be reimbursed.

The scheme, titled the ``Panchabyadhi Chikitsa'', was introduced in the State on an experimental basis in June 1999. However, the super-cyclone and its aftermath had forced a temporary closure of the scheme.

The Minister said the government was making all-out efforts to stock enough medicines for the five diseases in all health service outlets across the State. Medicines worth Rs. 1 crore had already been purchased for the scheme. While the scheme will be funded by the UK Government's Department for International Development initially, the State government has proposed to make necessary budgetary provision for it from the next year.

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Section  : Other States
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