A team of doctors from SCB Medical College and Hospital, Odisha’s premier government-run health institution, flew to Malkangiri today under the Mukhyamantri Vayu Swasthya Seva initiative. The air health service aims to deliver advanced medical care to people in remote corners of the State.
The medical panel, which travelled from Bhubaneswar’s Biju Patnaik International Airport, began treating patients requiring laparoscopic surgery, nephrology, and neurology consultations. Around 250 patients are expected to benefit during the team’s four-day stay.
Launched in 2021 by the then BJD Government, the scheme was designed to extend free specialized healthcare to poor and backward communities in far-flung districts.
Districts such as Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Nuapada, and Kalahandi have long suffered from a shortage of doctors and poor hospital infrastructure, discouraging medical professionals from working there. Through this initiative, the State seeks to bridge healthcare gaps, providing critical services in areas where they are otherwise unavailable.