On Wednesday, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced his government’s commitment to establish a medical college in each of the 30 districts and prioritize filling vacant doctor positions.

Speaking at the Odisha Medical Service Association (OMSA) annual conference in Balasore, Majhi urged doctors to work with dedication and maintain public trust in the medical profession.

Majhi criticized the previous BJD government for neglecting the health sector, noting that 5,765 of the 15,774 sanctioned doctor positions remain vacant. He pointed out that the previous administration had only appointed 443 doctors on ad hoc and contractual terms.

“Our priority is to promptly fill all vacant positions and enhance medical services. Nurses also play a crucial role in patient care,” he said.

He pledged to establish a medical college in each district and announced a 32% increase in the health department’s budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year.

Majhi emphasized the government’s commitment to quality healthcare and the implementation of the Ayushman Bharat scheme, which he claimed was previously blocked by politics.

Addressing OMSA’s demands, Majhi assured that doctors’ incentives and housing issues would be resolved and promised a safe working environment for healthcare professionals.