Bhubaneswar, November 19: The Odisha Government on Thursday signed an MoU with Prasanthi Medical Services and Research Foundation for extention of free cardiac treatment services to the poor and needy children of Odisha for next two years at Sathya Sai Heart Hospital in Ahamedabad.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Supreme Court judge Justice Vineet Saran, Orissa High Court Chief Justice Mohammad Rafiq, former Orissa HC CJ Kalpesh Jhaveri and Health and Family Welfare Minister Naba Kishore Das were present on the occasion.
The hospital was roped in on November 18, 2018 for providing free cardiac services to the children of Odisha with cardiac ailments. As per the agreement, the State Government identifies and bears the transportation cost of ailing children.
All the services are provided free of cost. Till now, 1,019 children have undergone cardiac surgery and cured of their heart ailments.
The next batch of children with cardiac ailments will be sent for treatment soon after a brief pause due to the covid situation.
Expressing happiness over free treatment of more than 1,000 patients from the State with cardiac defects since the agreement with PMSRF a couple of years back, the Chief Minister commended the foundation for its commitment to serve the humanity. In appreciation of this effort, the State Government is renewing the MoU to ensure that the poor people our state continue to receive this critical health service, he added.
Speaking on the occasion, Supreme Court Judge Justice Vineet Saran described Odisha as his second home. It’s his privilege to work anything for the state, he added.
It may be mentioned here, it was Justice Vineet Saran who introduced the PMSRF to Odisha.
Chief Justice of Odisha High Court, Justice Mohammad Rafiq appreciated the selfless, charitable commitment of the State Government and the Satya Sai Heart Hospital.
Managing Trustee of Satya Sai Heart Hospital Manoj Bhimani gave a brief account of the services extended by the institution.
All pre and post-operative care of patients at the hospital, including medicines, stents, coils, etc are borne by the Foundation. The transport assistance is provided by the State Government to the patients along with escorts referred to PMSRF, as per their eligibility under different Govt. schemes implemented in the State.
Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy, Development Commissioner Suresh Mohapatra, ACS Health & FW P.K. Mohapatra, NHM MD, Salini Pandit and Secretary to CM (5-T) V.K. Pandian were present.
