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Regarding need to expedite operationalization of AIIMS
Satellite Centre at Balasore in Odisha-Laid
SHRI PRATAP CHANDRA SARANGI (BALASORE): I wish to
draw the attention of the Government to a matter of urgent public
importance concerning healthcare delivery in Northern Odisha and
adjoining districts of West Bengal and Jharkhand. Despite various
efforts and repeated assurances from the Ministry of Health &
Family Welfare, Government of India, and the corresponding State
Health & Family Welfare, Department of Odisha, the much touted
AIIMS Satellite Centre at Balasore remains non-operational in its
full capacity for several years. This delay has deeply affected the
expectations of lakhs of people who depend on an affordable,
accessible, tertiary-care institution in this region. Balasore
exposed frequent cyclones floods and climate-linked health risks.
Yet, due to the lack of fully functional emergency, super-specialty
and inpatient services, patients are compelled to travel long
distances to Bhubaneswar or Kolkata for advanced treatment,
often at unbearable cost and delay. To fully realise the purpose of
this institution, the remaining components such as specialist
services inpatient wards, diagnostics, emergency and trauma care,
need to be made operational at the earliest. I therefore urge the
Government to take a holistic time-bound approach and direct the
concerned Central and State ministries to immediately complete all
remaining formalities, deploy sanctioned staff, and operationalise
AIIMS Balasore in full strength. A firm date for its inauguration must
be fixed without further delay. With strong broadband and
telecommunication networks already in place, this centre is
well-positioned to act as a medical hub for tele-consultation and
digital health services across PHCs and district hospitals in
Northern Odisha.