Balasore: Healthcare infrastructure in Odisha’s Balasore district is set to receive a major boost with Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recommending development works worth ₹3.10 crore under the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS).
The proposed funds will be utilised for upgrading facilities at two important government hospitals in the district — the Sub-Divisional Hospital (SDH) in Nilagiri and the Balasore District Headquarters Hospital (DHH).
Of the total allocation, ₹1.40 crore has been recommended for the Nilagiri Sub-Divisional Hospital, while ₹1.70 crore has been proposed for infrastructure improvements at the Balasore District Headquarters Hospital.
Nilagiri Hospital to Get Multiple Upgrades
The proposed development works at the Nilagiri Sub-Divisional Hospital will cover several important sections of the healthcare facility.
The planned upgrades include improvements to the In-Patient Department (IPD), drug warehouse, patient rest room, casualty department, refreshment hall, surgery ward and operation theatre (OT).
The proposal also includes development work at the Sub-Divisional Medical Officer (SDMO) office and the Out-Patient Department (OPD) block.
The improvements are expected to strengthen both patient-care facilities and the hospital’s operational infrastructure.
Balasore DHH to Receive ₹1.70 Crore
The Balasore District Headquarters Hospital has been allocated the larger share of the proposed funds, with ₹1.70 crore earmarked for various development works.
The proposed upgrades will cover the medicine block, drug warehouse, Mother and Child Complex, casualty department, Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) Centre, surgery ward and operation theatre.
Additional facilities planned under the proposal include a patient rest room and refreshment hall at the OPD block.
The works are expected to improve facilities in areas directly linked to treatment, emergency care, medicine management and patient support.
Focus on Patient Facilities and Emergency Care
The proposed infrastructure development is aimed at improving the overall healthcare experience for patients and their attendants.
Upgrades to casualty departments, surgery wards and operation theatres are expected to strengthen critical healthcare services, while improvements to drug warehouses and medicine blocks could support better storage and management of essential medicines.
The addition and improvement of patient rest areas and refreshment facilities are also expected to provide greater convenience to people visiting the hospitals for treatment.
Ashwini Vaishnaw’s Balasore Connection
Ashwini Vaishnaw has a long-standing administrative connection with Balasore. Before entering national politics and becoming a Union Minister, he had served as the District Collector of Balasore in 1999.
The latest MPLADS recommendations are expected to further strengthen public healthcare infrastructure in the district and improve access to better hospital facilities for residents.
The proposed ₹3.10 crore investment across the two government hospitals is likely to support improvements in several key departments and patient-service areas, strengthening healthcare delivery in Balasore.
