Odisha Govt Rolls Out Teleconsultation Services via Arogya Mandirs

Story ByRitika Thakur

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Odisha Govt Rolls Out Teleconsultation Services via Arogya Mandirs

This move will take place via a hub-and-spoke model, linking community health officers and medical officers with specialists at secondary and tertiary hospitals.

In a move to enhance healthcare delivery, Odisha Government has recently announced that the Ayushman Arogya Mandirs will offer teleconsultation services

This initiative will take place via a hub-and-spoke model, linking community health officers and medical officers with specialists at secondary and tertiary hospitals.

The effort, driven jointly by the Departments of Women and Child Development (W&CD) and Health and Family Welfare (H&FW), aims to provide consistent healthcare access through a coordinated convergence at state and district levels.

Additionally, the Odisha government has formulated comprehensive modalities to ensure regular and quality health check-ups for children residing in Child Care Institutions (CCIs) across the state.

Under the new directives, every CCI will be mapped to the nearest health facilities, including district hospitals, Community Health Centres (CHCs), Primary Health Centres (PHCs), urban primary health centres (UPHCs), or Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs).

CCI staff will coordinate with nearby health facilities to ensure regular check-ups, with each child receiving a health card to track immunizations, growth, treatments, and referrals.

These records will be updated during every health visit and periodically reviewed by government officials during institutional inspections, ensuring effective tracking of health outcomes.

Mobile health teams under the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK), which currently screen school-aged children, will extend their services to CCIs, incorporating these institutions into their regular visit schedules.

Recognizing the importance of mental health, CCIs will be connected with district mental health programme (DMHP) teams for regular assessments and counseling support.

District Collectors and CDMOs have been tasked with ensuring coordination between child protection units and health departments.

Joint orientation sessions will equip CCI staff and local health officials to effectively use health services, teleconsultation platforms, and mental health support.

The initiative aims to improve the overall well-being of children in institutional care, with progress monitored through district-level reviews and compliance reports.