Niramaya Scheme

The Department of Health & Family Welfare Department, Government of Odisha introduced a scheme named "NIRAMAYA" - a free medicine distribution scheme. The aim of this scheme is to provide quality essential medicines for all kinds of diseases to patients visiting government health facilities at free of cost. The scheme was launched on 01.05.2015 with an assurance to provide 720 medicines listed in the Emergency Drugs List at all the Government run hospitals and medical colleges free of cost to the patients. It started with 150 drugs in the list while the list has been updated to 570 numbers recently. The government also announced to set up of 1102 drug distribution centers (DDCs) which will cover 1234 primary health centers (PHCs), 383 Community Health Centers (CHCs), 32 District Headquarters Hospitals (DHHs), 22 sub-divisional hospitals and 3 medical colleges. This scheme is managed by the Odisha State Medical Corporation Ltd. (OSMC). Key Features of the scheme: 1. Healthcare Coverage: The scheme provides coverage for a wide range of health services, including preventive, diagnostic, and treatment services. It focuses on ensuring that people have access to essential medical care. 1. Financial Support: It may include financial support for medical treatments, which helps reduce out-of-pocket expenses for individuals and families. 1. Integrated Services: The scheme integrates various health services to offer a more holistic approach to health care. This might include primary health care, secondary and tertiary care, and sometimes even specialized treatments. 1. Quality Improvement: Scheme aims to enhance the quality of health services by setting standards and improving the infrastructure of healthcare facilities. 1. Public Awareness: The scheme often includes components for educating the public about health issues, preventive measures, and the available health services. 1. Collaboration: It may involve collaboration with private healthcare providers, NGOs, and other stakeholders to broaden the reach and effectiveness of the scheme.