Bhubaneswar, Dec 9 (Updated) Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday inaugurated a 330 bedded government hospital at Talcher in Dhenkanal district through video conferencing.
The hospital named after the former Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Pabitra Mohan Pradhan was set up at a cost of Rs 492 crore under the CSR of Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL).
Dedicating the. Hospital to the welfare of the local community, and paying his tribute to late Pradhan, Chief Minister said in future the hospital would be converted into a medical college.
Patnaik thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the cooperation of the Union government in setting up of the hospital.
He said health care has always been the focus of his government. During the last few years the number of medical colleges, doctors and health workers has increased in the state and new Medicare facilities have come up and the confidence of the people in government hospitals has increased.
The Chief Minister hoped that the new hospital would be guided by the mantra of every life is precious and provide health care to the people.
Speaking on the occasion Union Coal Minister Prahalad Joshi said Coal India has contributed a lot for the hospital and would provide all help to make the hospital a medical College.
He said MCL would provide Rs 678 crore for the management of the hospital for next five years.
Joshi also thanked the Odisha government particularly Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for providing all assistance for the hospital.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Odisha Minister for Health, Family Welfare Minister Niranjan Pujari also spoke on the occasion.
MCL CMD Keshav Rao, expressed his gratitude to the Government of Odisha for extending help to the company in its pursuits to meet aspirations of people.
