Central Scheme of Free Dialysis services is manipulated by Central Govt terming it as SAHAYA

Provision of Free Dialysis Services for poor kidney patients is a Central Govt. Scheme.

Govt. of Odisha has manipulated and hijacked it by declaring scheme “SAHAYA”, exposed under RTI

In 2016,  the Central Government declared Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme as part of National Health Mission  for provision of free dialysis services  to the poor in order to save them from huge financial burden and impoverishment, as   dialysis service is very  costly  in the hospitals and not affordable  by the poor patients. To implement this programme , the Central Govt.  released Rs. 152.80 crores  to all states and Union territories in financial year of  2016-17. Odisha received Rs. 2 crores under National Health Mission from the Central Govt.  to ensure free dialysis  services  to the patients.   But this fund was kept unutilized, as the State Government did not implement the programme.  Again in 2017-18, the Central Government released Rs. 358.45 lakhs under National Health Mission to Odisha Govt.   for ensuring free dialysis  services  to the patients.

But towards end of 2017, on 19.12.2017., the Chief Minister announced “SAHAYA” – A scheme for free Dialysis Services on the line of guideline issued by Govt. of India.  This Scheme  is copy and paste of Central Govt. guideline. The State Govt. made two years delay  to implement  this programme despite allocation of Central Fund. As per information obtained under RTI from the office of National Health Mission on 18.8.18.,   the State Government has started to implement the programme  w.e.f. 1.1.2018. With funding support  of  Central assistance ( Rs. 2 crore + Rs. 3.58 crores)  and State budget ( Rs. 1.15 crores),  this programme is now being implemented  with the following objectives –

i.     To ensure  assured diagnostic services in all public health facilities  as per its level of care so as  to reduce  the out of pocket spending ( OOPS)  towards diagnostics and dialysis services  through  strengthening  of public health  facilities.

ii.   To establish in collaboration with private service providers to ensure  High end pathology tests, tele-radiology ( x-ray) , MRI , CT-Scan & Dialysis services  at public health facilities.

Operationalisation of Dialysis Centres

Dialysis centres are operational in PPP mode at 7 DHHs (Capital Hospital, Angul, Balasore, Bolangir, Nuapara, Keonjhar and Puri ) during the period April-June 2018.

A total no. of 411 patients had undergone dialysis sessions at 7 DHHs during the period April-June 2018.  And the district wise details of the no. of patients are mentioned below.

Sl. No.	District/ Institution	No. of patients
1	Capital Hospital	102
2	DHH, Angul	43
3	DHH, Balasore	93
4	DHH, Boalngir	53
5	DHH, Nuapara	20
6	DHH, Keonjhar	55
7	DHH, Puri	45
	Total	411

Dialysis centres  have not yet been opeartionalised  in 23 district. All the  dialysis centres  will be operational  in PPP mode except 3 Govt. college and Hospitals.

Pradip Pradhan

M-9937843482

Date- 28.8.18