The samikhsya Bureau
Bhubaneswar: Odisha Government, on Thursday, signed an MoU with Prasanti Medical Services and Research Foundation for extension of free cardiac treatment services to the poor and needy children of the State for the next two years at Satya Sai Heart Hospital in Ahmedabad.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik; Justice Vineet Saran, Judge of Supreme Court of India; Justice Mohammad Rafiq, Chief Justice of Orissa High Court; Justice Kalpesh Jhaveri, former Chief Justice of Odisha and Health Minister Naba Das were present on the occasion.
The hospital was roped in on 18th November 2018 for providing free services to the children of Odisha with cardiac ailments. As per the agreement, the State Government identifies and bears the transportation cost of the ailing children.
All the services are provided free of cost. Till now, 1019 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, officials informed.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister stated that his Government is committed to make all efforts for fulfilling the healthcare needs of the people, especially the under-privileged and the under-served.
“One such remarkable step in this direction has been to ensure that the poor people of Odisha get free cardiac treatment and are given a new lease of life,” he added.
Expressing happiness over free treatment of more than 1000 patients from the state with cardiac defects since the agreement with the Foundation two years ago, 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 was Justice Vineet Saran who had introduced the Foundation to Odisha.
All pre and post-operative care of patients at the hospital, including medicines are borne by the Foundation. The transport assistance is provided by the State Government to the patients along with escorts referred to the Foundation as per their eligibility under different government schemes implemented in the State, the official shared.
